The morning the email arrived announcing that Vioxx was being recalled by its manufacturer, I immediately notified the Editor-in-Chief of the New England Journal of Medicine. Over the years and under various editors, NEJM had published important research about Vioxx in early trials. The news now was that an ongoing trial had subsequently shown increased risks of heart attack and stroke with long-term use, and the drug’s maker (Merck) was withdrawing Vioxx from the market. Because NEJM had been involved in publishing studies showing both benefits and risks, many subsequent months were spent as the editors responded to various parties seeking information about Merck’s conduct during the preceding years.
A truly sobering discussion about commercial research, Conflicts of interest, research outputs and public trust.
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. . . trained its representatives to identify speakers for educational events who were “opinion leaders” who could provide “favorable” views of the company’s products to other doctors. Underlining the promotional nature of these events, Merck instructed its sales representatives to track whether the physicians who attended them subsequently prescribed more Merck drugs. . . . it would be a mistake to restrict the lessons learned to a single company. The testimony we heard indicated that Merck’s marketing practices may be less aggressive and more ethical than those of many of its competitors.
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