MERCK HAD A SAFER VIOXX
Researcher: Merck considered compound to make Vioxx safer
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/18/05THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTIC CITY — Five weeks into a trial over whether Merck's now-withdrawn drug, Vioxx, caused a man's heart attack, a company researcher said Monday that Merck executives privately discussed adding a compound to the drug to make the painkiller protect the heart the way aspirin does.
In the final day of cross-examination of Merck researcher Dr. Alise Reicin, a lawyer for a man who blames Vioxx for his heart attack discussed the company's actions after a study showed people using Vioxx had five times as many heart attacks as those using naproxen, an older, cheaper pain reliever.
On Monday, she discussed minutes from meetings in which executives of the pharmaceutical company discussed reformulating Vioxx with an aspirin-like compound. Reicin testified that reformulating Vioxx was just one of the ideas that Merck doctors were discussing, and that the company believed Vioxx was safe for the heart.
"Are you aware of any public statements by the company telling patients. . . . "You may want to be careful taking Vioxx?' " Buchanan asked.
Reicin reiterated the company's belief then that Vioxx posed no heart risk.
Where you can find all the latest breaking news concerning VIOXX
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/18/05THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTIC CITY — Five weeks into a trial over whether Merck's now-withdrawn drug, Vioxx, caused a man's heart attack, a company researcher said Monday that Merck executives privately discussed adding a compound to the drug to make the painkiller protect the heart the way aspirin does.
In the final day of cross-examination of Merck researcher Dr. Alise Reicin, a lawyer for a man who blames Vioxx for his heart attack discussed the company's actions after a study showed people using Vioxx had five times as many heart attacks as those using naproxen, an older, cheaper pain reliever.
On Monday, she discussed minutes from meetings in which executives of the pharmaceutical company discussed reformulating Vioxx with an aspirin-like compound. Reicin testified that reformulating Vioxx was just one of the ideas that Merck doctors were discussing, and that the company believed Vioxx was safe for the heart.
"Are you aware of any public statements by the company telling patients. . . . "You may want to be careful taking Vioxx?' " Buchanan asked.
Reicin reiterated the company's belief then that Vioxx posed no heart risk.
Where you can find all the latest breaking news concerning VIOXX
posted by Chris Placitella at 8:55 AM
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