April 25, 2005
According to The New York Times report yesterday, Merck overruled one of its own scientists back in 2000 after he suggested a 73-year-old woman in a Vioxx clinical trial had probably died of a heart attack.
In the email exchange concerning Vioxx, a top Merck scientist repeatedly encouraged the researcher to change his views about the death “so that we don’t raise concerns”. Later reports to the FDA, as well as a paper published in 2003, labeled the cause of death as unknown, according to the newspaper report.
The woman’s death is mentioned in several previously undisclosed Merck records, including emails from Merck’s senior scientist from 1985 to 2002 and a vice president for clinical research. Messages include concerned discussions about data contradicting its view that Vioxx was safe, according to the Times.
After Vioxx was recalled, Merck officials said they had just learned about the heart attack and stroke risks recently. Since the Vioxx recall, at least 4,600 patients or survivors are suing Merck claiming the drug caused their heart attacks or strokes. The first Vioxx lawsuit is set to go to trial on May 23 in Alabama.For more information on the Vioxx recall, please contact us to confer with a Vioxx Recall Lawyer and learn your legal rights and options.
