Drugmakers Settle Claims over Statin Cover-Up
Drugmakers Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. say they will pay $5.4 million to settle civil claims that the companies covered up test results that cast doubt on the effectiveness of two blockbuster cholesterol drugs. They settled with attorneys general from 35 states. Merck and Schering-Plough will pay back the costs of the investigation, but don’t have to make other payments or admit wrongdoing or liability.
In 2008, the companies released studies showing Vytorin and Zetia, sold by the Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals joint venture, were not more effective than an older drug at reducing plaque buildup. The testing was finished in 2006 and the companies faced criticism for not releasing the results sooner.
This headline was just a blip on the radar screen but I wanted to publicize it because whenever people go to the doctor and find that they have a total cholesterol that is over 200, the doctor wants to put them on a statin. Here, we have clear evidence that some of these newer drugs don’t perform as well as the older ones.
The real question to consider is whether or not total cholesterol is a good marker for heart disease. As I argued before in this article, there are only two components of the cholesterol equation that actually mean anything. It’s important to read and understand your lipid profile so you will not fall prey to false claims from drug manufacturers and general practitioners who are ignorant of the science of cholesterol.
The Only True Measures of Cholesterol!
Insulin and Atherosclerosis
Is a Low-Fat, High Carbohydrate Diet Really Heart Healthy?
One cannot review these things enough.
