Vioxx - On Trial

The Vioxx story in the Times is exactly like a riff in John Grisham's King of Torts.

A trial which deals with an issue as large as an EPA or OSHA hearing, with advanced scientific information, is happening in a rural courthouse somewhere in Texas.

In King of Torts, the plaintiff's attorney kicks but, the big Phara company appears on the ropes, and then the plaintiff is no caused. [And the protagonist trial attorney, not directly involved in the case, goes bankrupt.]

Nevertheless, in the old days, Dodger had the impression the Pharma pushers were former nurses, etc, who knew something about the field. Now it's just crowds [at the outpatient facility I frequent] of tastefully attired, mid-heeled 30 somethings.



ALEX BERENSON
Published: July 21, 2005

ANGLETON, Tex., July 20 - Merck told its sales representatives that its painkiller Vioxx did not increase the risk of heart attacks, according to a Merck training video played on Wednesday for jurors in the first Vioxx lawsuit to reach trial.

The video, which had never before been publicly shown, also depicts actors playing Merck representatives avoiding a question about Vioxx's potential to increase blood pressure - a documented side effect.

While the training tape was never shown to doctors or consumers, its existence may further undercut Merck's claim that the company properly disclosed Vioxx's risks during the five years the drug was on the market.

In the video, an actress playing "an obstacle" to Vioxx sales says, "I'm afraid Vioxx causes M.I.'s" - a reference to myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks.

In response, an actress playing a Merck sales representative says, "That's not true."

After playing a portion of the videotape to the jury, W. Mark Lanier, a lawyer for plaintiffs in the case, asked Dr. Nancy Santanello, a senior Merck scientist, why Merck had told its sales representatives that Vioxx did not cause heart attacks or raise blood pressure.

Dr. Santanello responded that at the time the training video was made, Merck did not know if Vioxx raised the risk of heart attacks. In addition, the tape does not show the actress actually denying that Vioxx raises blood pressure, Dr. Santanello said.