Monday, December 10, 2007

Effectiveness, Safety of Zetia and Vytorin, Cholesterol Drugs, in Doubt

Zetia and Vytorin are two widely prescribed cholesterol drugs. Both drug are marketed and sold by Schering-Plough and Merck.

Cardiologists have been demanding Schering-Plough and Merck come forward with clinical trials to prove the drugs’ effectiveness and safety. Cardiologists fear that if the drugs prove to be less effective than advertised, patients may be putting themselves at unnecessary risk of heart attacks. Approximately 800,000 Americans are prescribed Zetia and Vytorin each year.

So far neither Schering-Plough nor Merck have published the results of Zetia and Vytorin trials. This ain’t Denmark, but something’s rotten here.

And this also ain’t Kansas, so the wizards at Schering-Plough and Merck better publish the data, if it’s true. 800,000 live depend on it!

Alex Berenson, The New York Times 11/21/2007 Read Article: The New York Times

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