Tequin Timeline
1963—Nalidixic acid is approved by Food and Drug Administration for treatment of urinary tract infections.
1980s—Modifications made to nalidixic acid, resulting in fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs such as Tequin.
December 1999—Bristol-Myers receives fast track for FDA approval of Tequin (minus premarket testing to determine possible side effects). The drug would generate about $150 million in sales for each of the next six years.
2002—Information added to Tequin’s label about risks of high and low blood sugar.
2002—Pharmacists fill 3 million prescriptions for Tequin.
2005—400 complaints about blood sugar changes, 159 hospitalizations and 20 deaths attributed to use of Tequin since it went on market.
February 15, 2006—FDA urges Bristol-Myers Squibb to revise its labeling of Tequin due to dangerous health risks, still stopping short of a complete recall.
March 2006—The New England Journal of Medicine publishes article about heightened dangers for elderly patients taking Tequin.
May 1, 2006—Bristol-Myers Squibb announces it will no longer make and sell Tequin.
May 2, 2006—Consumer watchdog group Public Citizen petitions FDA to ban Tequin.
May 9, 2006—$200,000 class action lawsuit filed in Canada, alleging Bristol-Myers Squibb did not properly inform patients of risks of Tequin.