More criticism of a Vioxx study funded by Merck

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What no one seems to be noting is the fact that Vioxx depletes the body of Folic Acid. Chronic Folic Acid deficiency leads to heart attack & stroke. - CW

The editors of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) have published more criticism of a Vioxx study funded by Merck, the drug's manufacturer.

The editors of the Journal allege that if the study had disclosed all of the heart-related side effects of the painkiller Vioxx, it would have shown that the benefits of the drug were negated by the problems.

Failure to Disclose

This expands on NEJM's earlier revelation that the study had failed to disclose several heart attacks that occurred among patients taking Vioxx, rendering the study's calculations and conclusions incorrect.

Letters from Merck

The NEJM also published two letters to the editor, one from Merck-employed scientists, arguing that the data was handled appropriately because the heart attacks had occurred after a specified cutoff date. The letters also claimed that the additional heart attacks did not affect the study's conclusions.

Five Times the Heart Attacks

When the additional data is factored in, the heart attack rate of Vioxx consumers rises from four times to five times the rate of those taking naproxen, a comparative drug.

The editorial states that at least two authors of the study were aware of the information more than four months prior to the study being published.

Merck faces over 9,000 Vioxx-related lawsuits.

New England Journal of Medicine February 22, 2006

USA Today February 23, 2006

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