Merck, accused of knowingly selling Vioxx despite its potential to cause heart attacks, started to unfold its defense Thursday by calling its top research scientists to the witness stand to explain the vast amount of research the company does.
Dr. Briggs Morrison, Merck's director of clinical research, and Dr. Alise Reicin, the vice president for early research, said the company performed dozens of tests on the arthritis pain drug Vioxx to discover various potential side effects and its interactions with other drugs, such as aspirin.
The scientists testified as the defense put on its case in a lawsuit being heard in Madison County Circuit Court.
The company is trying to put in context the studies that the plaintiffs have highlighted in their allegations that Vioxx was one of the causes of the heart attack death of a Granite City woman.
Reicin said she and her colleagues were not convinced that Vioxx caused heart attacks, despite studies that raised the possibilities.
Dr. Briggs Morrison, Merck's director of clinical research, and Dr. Alise Reicin, the vice president for early research, said the company performed dozens of tests on the arthritis pain drug Vioxx to discover various potential side effects and its interactions with other drugs, such as aspirin.
The scientists testified as the defense put on its case in a lawsuit being heard in Madison County Circuit Court.
The company is trying to put in context the studies that the plaintiffs have highlighted in their allegations that Vioxx was one of the causes of the heart attack death of a Granite City woman.
Reicin said she and her colleagues were not convinced that Vioxx caused heart attacks, despite studies that raised the possibilities.
"That's all it was, a hypothesis," she said about the heart attack possibilities."
"There were also studies saying Vioxx could also be cardio-protective (reduce heart attack risks)," she said on the witness stand Thursday.
What a woman!
Source
"There were also studies saying Vioxx could also be cardio-protective (reduce heart attack risks)," she said on the witness stand Thursday.
What a woman!
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment