Merck finally acknowledges the truth . . .

[BaliBabyDoc]

cnn

The company's general counsel stressed that Merck had not changed its strategy of fighting every case in court, it said.

However, a Merck spokeswoman told the newspaper that in cases where patients took Vioxx for more than 18 months and had no other risk factors for heart attacks or strokes, "we're going to have to carefully look at those cases."

These guys are as bad as the Bush administration. One person says one thing, while another says something quite different.

More than 20 million people took Vioxx in the United States before the drug was withdrawn last September after a Merck-sponsored clinical trial found it increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people who took the medicine daily for more than 18 months.

For those of you that don't know, Vioxx increased the risk of heart attack by 5-fold. There were also trends towards increased morbidity at 6 and 12 months.

"We have to do it better than we did in Angleton," Kenneth Frazier, Merck's general counsel, told the Journal. "Each time we do this, we learn and hope to sharpen our approaches."

Wow, talk about an expensive education! Here's an idea, why not admit to mistakes . . . offer free care for those with REAL injuries . . . and free surveillance for those worried about injuries? Even with our ridiculously dysfunctional healthcare system, that's gotta be cheaper than losing these cases!

 

[5LiterMustang]

I dont understand why people are always so quick to help the drug manufacturers...what about all the people that were helped by vioxx? included myself.

 

[zendari]

There is no such thing as "free" care or "free" surveillance. Either Merck raises costs or goes bankrupt.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

I don't understand what you are saying.

If your point is "what now" for the people that need Vioxx . . . I would say find a different analgesic for a few months. I expect Merck to petition FDA to allow Vioxx back on the market with a black box warning. FDA should agree to do so, b/c with the right precautions Vioxx is both safe and effective.

But let there be no mistake, Merck caused this problem. I sort of feel sorry for them . . . not that I have a soft spot for corporate evildoers. Over the past decade, Merck was one of the best run drug companies on the planet. They produced good agents on a regular basis and unlike several other companies . . . their accounting department could actually count. Pfizer has been eyeballing MRK for takeover for MANY years . . . trying to get ahold of a strong organization with good products and pipeline. It's shame that they may have thrown it all away.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: zendari
There is no such thing as "free" care or "free" surveillance. Either Merck raises costs or goes bankrupt.

It's called "liability." MRK has blood in the water . . . a lot of it. It's time for triage. From the original internal data (1997), VIGOR, FDA Advisory Panel, and APPROVe . . . there's ample data that Vioxx can clearly CAUSE CV events after extended use. Despite MRK's arguments to the contrary, there's also plenty of evidence that shorter exposure (<18 months) carries some risk as well.

MRK can either pay to argue or settle ALL of the cases coming down the pipeline OR they can propose "remedies" for past, current, and future injury. I don't have enough information or the acturiarial skills to figure out which option makes the most "economic" sense. But in the court of public opinion (and probably more than a few juries), a company that tries to do right by patients . . . probably gets A LOT of credit when it comes to trial AND punitive damages.

MRK's got deep pockets and still makes decent bank. In markets, where there are competing products, it's impossible for them to raise prices. They will likely trim advertising (DTC, detailing), other infrastructure (middle management, reps), and R&D. Assuming they mount an effective salvage operation, they will likely survive long enough for Pfizer to come gobble them up.

Then again, once rimonabant hits the market . . . don't be surprised if the French (Sanofi-Aventis) come calling. Could you imagine the jingoist consternation in the USA, if the #3 drugmaker gobbled #2 (New Jersey-based MRK) . . . creating the world's largest pharmaceutical company? Can you say "repeal of the drug benefit?!"