Merck Announces Withdrawal of Vioxx Painkiller

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 30, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is pulling its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx from the market worldwide because new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Whitehouse Station-based Merck said Thursday that data from the trial showed the increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications began 18 months after patients started taking Vioxx.

The data comes from a three-year study aimed at showing that Vioxx at a 25 milligram dose prevents recurrence of polyps in the colon and rectum. The trial was stopped after Merck discovered the higher heart risk compared to patients taking dummy pills.

"We're taking this action because we believe it best serves the interest of patients," Ray V. Gilmartin, Merck's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a prepared statement.

"Although we believe it would have been possible to continue to market Vioxx with labeling that would incorporate these new data, given the availability of alternative therapies and the questions raised by the data, we concluded that a voluntary withdrawal is the responsible course to take," he said.

Merck, the world's third-biggest drugmaker, announced the news before the stock market opened. It scheduled a 9 a.m. news conference in New York to discuss the information.

Vioxx is one of Merck's most important drugs, with $2.5 billion in sales in 2003. But sales dipped 18 percent in the second quarter of this year to $653 million.

Merck is scheduled to release financial results for the third quarter, which ends today, on Oct. 21

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While I know the amount of Vioxx I've taken is small, I still want to go home and flush whatever is left in my apartment.

On the brighter side, I've cut my smoking enormously. Down to less than five a day, unless I end up playing cards or drinking. Still, it's quite a lot less than I have been smoking. I enjoy smoking, but I need to do it less.

law and order sound

With each passing episode, the L&O sound becomes more dramatic. They must be doing it on purpose, creating their icon.

Today a fellow from the foodbank came around to thank everyone for our donations. The company total was 5070 lbs. (Interesting, how a little over a hundred people in an office of a couple hundred brought in 90% of the food.) It's scary how many people in town need assistance from pantries and kitchens. They have a program called Kids Cafe, where young children are able to get a free hot meal at dinner time if their families can't provide. The older kids and the parents are also able to eat there, in exchange for volunteer work. There are a dozen of these Cafes in Austin. I am a little shocked by what that means about my city.

I grew up poor, but somehow I always felt it was an aberration? I don't know. But it's so disturbing to realize how vast the ranks of "the working poor" have become now. It makes me want to smash the windows on all the nice cars driven by corporate executives who make six figure salaries and send half the company jobs overseas. It makes me want to drag our President out of his cushy little hole and see how well he gets by working two jobs and trying to take care of his kids.

I don't begrudge people who work hard. Some people really do earn that kind of money because they've busted their ass. But then, some of them don't. I refuse to excuse those who make decisions that fatten their bank accounts at the expense of others, people who put thousands out of work to squeeze a few more dollars out of those fourth quarter returns. I refuse to excuse people who don't have the balls or brains to see things in context, the rich and varied interplay of actions and consequences.

We have to think about more than just ourselves. It's hard. Few important things are easy. If you refuse to see more than just your little world, your TV, your six pack and Friday paycheck and if you deliberately choose to be ignorant about the world then you are a fucking moron. Take your self indulgent, unaware ass and stop breathing. There are organisms out there who can put that oxygen to better use than you can. Tuna for example, or cows or even turkey buzzards.

Why the fuck can't Bush answer a simple question? Hello, tangent! Why am I watching the debates? Because I thought they were yesterday and then I had time to feel guilty about not watching them. Sarah would be glad to know I convinced someone at work to register to vote, and I even printed out the forms for him. It's painful to listen to my coworkers discuss politics, as so many of them are wildly, grossly uninformed. I try to make gentle corrections and mostly keep my mouth shut. If I really started talking, it would get ugly.

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Oh my god.

You know, I've heard from several different sources that Bush will rock out in the debates. But every single time he opens his mouth, he sounds like an angry child who has been called on an obvious falsehood. It's amazing! What the fucking fuck? I don't understand. Does this man not live in the real world with the rest of us? He's terrible at this.

Kerry is thankfully coming off as calm, poised and factual. He's poked some giant holes in Bush's statements.

If I were taking shots for every time Bush said "um" I would be drunk now. Each time he does that, someone on his team must cringe.

We can't change our opinions as our information changes? Fuck you Bush. How dare you question our patriotism when we question your lies?

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"Under my leadership we're going to win the war in Iraq." - Bush
Oh my what happened to the victory you declared?

Fuck you fuck you fuck you Mr President. Fuck you for your arrogance. To say we are lesser patriots because we dare to criticise our leaders? Because we demand better? Since when have you used diplomacy? You've alienated a hell of a lot of the world in the course of this misguided action.

I'm torn between laughing at the absurdity of the things that come out of his mouth, screaming at my screen in anger, or crying.

edit You wouldn't join the International Criminal Court because you didn't want half your buddies to be put up for war crimes asshole. Tell the truth for once.