1999 Vioxx Study Caused Deaths, Study Not Stopped
A recent report on National Public Radio uncovered another disturbing fact in the Vioxx saga. As we know, Merck halted a study in 2004, and withdrew the drug from the market, after researchers discovered an increase in heart attack deaths. However, the cardiovascular risk showed up as early as 1999 in a study that Merck researches decided to continue. Started before the 2001 VIGOR study, results from the earlier study indicated a two fold risk of heart attack.
Not only did Merck continue the study, but they made a concerted effort to downplay the results.
See the NPR transcript here.
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