The FDA advisory committee members’ inability to rule for or against the approval of Valeant (VRX) anti plaque psoriasis drug brodalumab was not unexpected. However, more outside observers were expecting the committee to flatly reject the skin disease drug that would subject people to commit suicide or to cardiovascular side effects, including death.

Indeed, the discussions were mostly about the drug’s side effects specifically the possibility that the treatment might be causing suicidal tendencies and cardiovascular diseases. According to the FDA advisory committee’s report 23 deaths occurred among people taking brodalumab, including . . .