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Merck under public scrutiny after media report showed execs hid Vioxx data

Compliance Monitor, November 3, 2004

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Shares of Merck fell more than 10% this week, according to the Associated Press. The cause appears to have been a Wall Street Journal report indicating that the newspaper saw documents showing Merck hid or denied evidence for years that Vioxx causes heart problems.

Merck, one of the world's top five drug makers, pulled the arthritis and acute pain drug from the market in September. Company officials said they pulled the drug in the best interest of patients.

Vioxx has been taken by about 20 million Americans and is responsible for generating 11% of Merck's total revenues.

The Journal reported that internal e-mails and marketing materials show the company knew as far back as 2000 that Vioxx was linked to an increased risk of heart attack.

Merck tried to discredit academic researchers who were critical of the drug, according to the Journal. The report said that Merck research director Edward Scolnick sent colleagues an email on March 9, 2000 conceding that the evidence was "clearly there" that Vioxx caused an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke.

The Journal reported that one Merck training document listed potentially difficult questions about the drug and stated in capital letters, "DODGE!"

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