Reforms urged for drug companies...THIS IS SCARY
By ersmommy1
@ersmommy1 (12587)
United States
April 16, 2008 12:15pm CST
Merck minimized deaths that showed Vioxx didn't prevent Alzheimer's
Article said Merck paid academics to take credit for research articles
Journal official: "The manipulation is disgusting"
Merck called the reports false and misleading Two new reports involving the painkiller Vioxx raise fresh concerns about how drug companies influence the interpretation and publication of medical research.
A journal report criticized Merck for ghostwriting, minimizing Vioxx deaths.
The reports claim Merck & Co. frequently paid academic scientists to take credit for research articles prepared by company-hired medical writers, a practice called ghostwriting.
3 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
16 Apr 08
I have heard good things and bad things about the Merck company. I heard that they made it real easy for people to get medication at discount prices but then I also heard that they do not make legit medicines. I have also heard that it has caused some deaths also. I would never consider using them.
@DaddyOfTheRose (2934)
• United States
16 Apr 08
I think this is a tremendously important issue. It is one for the FDA or Congress, I don't know. But, certainly, I think it makes sense to outright ban companies and this 'ghostwriting' practice. I don't know enough about the process involved to really state an intelligent opinion, but I do think that someone needs to be watching over the Pharmaceutical companies to prevent this kind of abuse.
@rosettaresearch (1285)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Merck was in it for the money. Academics are supposed to be about the search for truth. By going along with Merck, the professors who put their names on the reprots demeaned their profession AND risked people's lives. How can they look at themselves in the mirror?
