Merck let Vioxx trial patients die

Most reasonable people expect that a drug company would care for its patients and would do everything possible to save their lives - or at least not see them die while it knows that it can stop it. But according to a top Merck scientist, Ed Scolnick, when Merck found out that more patients were dying in a trial on Alzheimer's patients than those on a placebo, Merck told the FDA (to complete its legal obligation) but kept the critical information from doctors and patients.

Scolnick admitted that as early as 2001 Merck knew that Vioxx was killing people and the public should have been told. Instead the drug was recalled only in September of 2004, resulting in as many as 140,000 personal injuries (with 60,000 deaths in the US alone).

In another startling finding by noted biostatistician Richard Kronmal, he has found that not only are Vioxx patients are more likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes, they also have a higher probability of getting Alzheimer's Disease.

It is interesting though that Ed Scolnick who was involved very closely in defending Vioxx from all its critics did not actually see this specific piece of data. His emails that have ridiculed the FDA and all other scientists show how little regard the company had for anyone who did not agree with them. In another email that was presented in court, Scolnick wanted a "boil in oil" a stock analyst who wanted to criticize Vioxx.

Related article: Merck intimidated all Vioxx critics