Researchers: Merck Discredited Initial Vioxx Findings
New Studies Bolster Data That Put Arthritis Drugs On Hot Seat
POSTED: 4:34 pm EST January 24, 2005
CHICAGO -- Scientists say Merck, the maker of the painkiller drug Vioxx, didn't like what researchers found when they looked at a link between the drug and heart attacks.
Survey: Merck Handle Vioxx Recall Appropriately?
Merck had paid for the study. But when the results came in, Merck forced one of its own researchers to remove her name from it -- and then publicly criticized the findings before pulling the arthritis drug from the market, according to two of the scientist's colleagues.The company confirms its actions, saying it believed the conclusions linking Vioxx to heart attacks "were not supported by the data." The researchers wrote about the episode in this week's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.Merck pulled Vioxx from the market in September 2004 after a study linked the drug with an increased risk of heart attacks.The journal includes several studies about Vioxx and Celebrex. One of them reinforces earlier findings that in some older patients, the drugs might not offer as much protection as had been thought against gastrointestinal problems. Additional Resources:
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Survey: Merck Handle Vioxx Recall Appropriately?Merck had paid for the study. But when the results came in, Merck forced one of its own researchers to remove her name from it -- and then publicly criticized the findings before pulling the arthritis drug from the market, according to two of the scientist's colleagues.The company confirms its actions, saying it believed the conclusions linking Vioxx to heart attacks "were not supported by the data." The researchers wrote about the episode in this week's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.Merck pulled Vioxx from the market in September 2004 after a study linked the drug with an increased risk of heart attacks.The journal includes several studies about Vioxx and Celebrex. One of them reinforces earlier findings that in some older patients, the drugs might not offer as much protection as had been thought against gastrointestinal problems. Additional Resources:
Previous Stories:
- December 8, 2004: Merck Appoints Committee To Review Vioxx Actions
- November 5, 2004: After Vioxx Recall, FDA Renews Efforts To Ensure Safety
- October 7, 2004: Vioxx May Not Be Only Drug With Heart Risk
- October 6, 2004: Report: Government Study Uncovers Vioxx Risks
- October 5, 2004: Class-Action Lawsuit Filed In Illinois Over Vioxx
- October 1, 2004: Vioxx Recall Prompts Patients To Look For Alternatives
- September 30, 2004: Arthritis Patients Scramble For Alternatives Amid Vioxx Recall
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