Drug firm ignorance ‘hard to swallow’
A LONGSTANDING Australian employee of Merck & Co said it was a “bit hard to swallow” to say the pharmaceutical giant was not aware of the possibility that its anti-arthritis drug Vioxx could cause heart attacks.
Milanda Rout
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Merck’s big push on Vioxx revealed
MARKETING documents reveal Australian staff at pharmaceutical giant Merck planned to spend $14.5 million on promotional “tactics” for its anti-arthritis drug Vioxx in one year, including $6 million on free samples.
Vioxx played ‘role’ in heart attack
A LEADING US cardiologist has testified that the anti-arthritis drug Vioxx played a “substantial contributing role” in the heart attack of a 58-year-old Australian former navy officer.
‘Hairy time’ in Merck staff’s Vioxx spoof
CONCERNS that anti-arthritis drug Vioxx caused heart attacks were spoofed as a “hairy time” by Merck & Co sales staff in a beauty salon-themed skit. But it didn’t “foil” them because “there must be more tangles to the story”.
Merck staff in comedy skit on Vioxx
SALES staff at pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co made light of the rough year they had had responding to safety concerns about the company’s blockbuster drug Vioxx, sending up the controversy in an in-house skit based in a hairdressing salon.
Manoeuvres of Vioxx reps revealed
AUSTRALIAN sales staff of the pharmaeutical giant that produced anti-arthritis drug Vioxx were trained to get past “difficult” receptionists so they could spruik their products to doctors.
Mullett, Ashby’s ‘toxic’ relationship
PROSECUTORS have described the relationship between Noel Ashby and former police union boss Paul Mullett as a “toxic one”.
Drug firm staff ‘stalled probe’
AUSTRALIAN staff of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co sought to delay a federal government review into the safety and pricing of its blockbuster anti-arthritis drug Vioxx.
Killer must pay ex-wife $225,000 compo
A MAN who killed his three children by driving them into a dam in 2005 has been ordered to pay the mother of his children $225,000.
Vioxx made heart warnings softer
SENIOR staff at pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co sought to make “more palatable” a recommended warning by the government drugs regulatory body against the long-term use of Vioxx by people with a history of heart conditions.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/milanda-rout/page/122