The chief executive of Merck has told Reuters that negative media coverage of the ENHANCE trial of the company's blockbuster Vytorin cholesterol drug has unfairly overlooked benefits of the medicine.
"With media hype, there is a great deal of confusion," Richard Clark told analysts in a conference call after release of the drugmaker's fourth-quarter earnings.
"There are no better products in lowering LDL than Vytorin and Zetia," Clark said.
"With media hype, there is a great deal of confusion," Richard Clark told analysts in a conference call after release of the drugmaker's fourth-quarter earnings.
"There are no better products in lowering LDL than Vytorin and Zetia," Clark said.
Insider's view: thanks Dick. Now please explain what exactly the benefits of Vytorin are?
In Insider's book there is a pecking order of clinical trial end points:
Top: Hard end points ( like death, heart attacks and strokes - you know, Dick, like the ones Vioxx caused). Good data - but long studies. We dont know what Vytorin does for these end points.
Middle: Surrogate end points ( like the ones in ENHANCE ) - often used to get indicative data of positive effects faster. We know know that the ezetimibe in Vytorin HAS FAILED to improve these any more than simvastatin alone.
Bottom: Biomarker end points (like BP, blood cholesterol levels etc.) - this was all that Vytorin was shown to improve when it got a licence from the FDA. Maybe they should reconsider that?
So, Dick, tell me the benefits of Vytorin! Other than it's sales might help Merck pay off the Vioxx settlements!
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