Re: NEWS - Merck voluntarily withdraws Vioxx from the market

[Guest guest]

HORAY!!!!!!!! As one affected by the Vioxx, I'm happy to hear this. My BP

jumped considerably on Vioxx and returned to normal when I went off of it.

a

> September 30, 2004

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said

> on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a colon

> cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises the risk

> of heart attack and stroke.

>

> Merck's shares plunged in pre-market trading after the announcement.

>

> A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested

> patients taking Vioxx faced a 50 percent greater risk of heart attacks

> and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N: Quote,

> Profile, Research) rival Celebrex treatment.

>

> Vioxx had sales last year of $2.55 billion. They have been flat in

> recent years amid ongoing safety concerns.

>

> Merck said it is withdrawing the drug following data from a new

> three-year trial of Vioxx, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the

> drug's standard 25 milligram dose in preventing recurrence of colorectal

> polyps. Such polyps often become cancerous.

>

> " In this study, there was an increased relative risk for confirmed

> cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, beginning after

> 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to those

> taking placebo, " Merck said in a release.

>

> " It's a major blow for Merck, " said Sena Lund, an analyst at Cathay

> Financial. " It was one of their five key drivers for future growth. "

>

> Merck had expected Vioxx to help restore the company's earnings growth

> when the drug was launched in 1999, but its sales have been hurt by

> clinical trial data showing it increased the incidence of blood clots

> tied to strokes and heart attacks.

>

> Meanwhile, sales of Pfizer Inc.'s similar drugs, Celebrex and Bextra,

> have steadily grown as doctors have turned to those drugs, which have

> not been linked to heart attack and stroke.

>

> © Reuters 2004. .

>

> http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews & storyID=6377485

>

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HORAY!!!!!!!! As one affected by the Vioxx, I'm happy to hear this. My BP

jumped considerably on Vioxx and returned to normal when I went off of it.

a

> September 30, 2004

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said

> on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a colon

> cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises the risk

> of heart attack and stroke.

>

> Merck's shares plunged in pre-market trading after the announcement.

>

> A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested

> patients taking Vioxx faced a 50 percent greater risk of heart attacks

> and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N: Quote,

> Profile, Research) rival Celebrex treatment.

>

> Vioxx had sales last year of $2.55 billion. They have been flat in

> recent years amid ongoing safety concerns.

>

> Merck said it is withdrawing the drug following data from a new

> three-year trial of Vioxx, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the

> drug's standard 25 milligram dose in preventing recurrence of colorectal

> polyps. Such polyps often become cancerous.

>

> " In this study, there was an increased relative risk for confirmed

> cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, beginning after

> 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to those

> taking placebo, " Merck said in a release.

>

> " It's a major blow for Merck, " said Sena Lund, an analyst at Cathay

> Financial. " It was one of their five key drivers for future growth. "

>

> Merck had expected Vioxx to help restore the company's earnings growth

> when the drug was launched in 1999, but its sales have been hurt by

> clinical trial data showing it increased the incidence of blood clots

> tied to strokes and heart attacks.

>

> Meanwhile, sales of Pfizer Inc.'s similar drugs, Celebrex and Bextra,

> have steadily grown as doctors have turned to those drugs, which have

> not been linked to heart attack and stroke.

>

> © Reuters 2004. .

>

> http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews & storyID=6377485

>

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

a, when you went off Vioxx, did you switch to another anti-

inflamatory and did your blood pressure stay normal? I've never

taken Vioxx--I take Celebrex--but this still makes me a little

nervous because I've had several friends tell me that their doctors

say the two are virtually the same. I've never had a BP problem,

though, except when I was taking Naprosyn.

> HORAY!!!!!!!! As one affected by the Vioxx, I'm happy to hear

this. My BP

> jumped considerably on Vioxx and returned to normal when I went off

of it.

> a

>

> > September 30, 2004

> >

> > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile,

Research) said

> > on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a

colon

> > cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises the

risk

> > of heart attack and stroke.

> >

> > Merck's shares plunged in pre-market trading after the

announcement.

> >

> > A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested

> > patients taking Vioxx faced a 50 percent greater risk of heart

attacks

> > and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N:

Quote,

> > Profile, Research) rival Celebrex treatment.

> >

> > Vioxx had sales last year of $2.55 billion. They have been flat in

> > recent years amid ongoing safety concerns.

> >

> > Merck said it is withdrawing the drug following data from a new

> > three-year trial of Vioxx, designed to evaluate the effectiveness

of the

> > drug's standard 25 milligram dose in preventing recurrence of

colorectal

> > polyps. Such polyps often become cancerous.

> >

> > " In this study, there was an increased relative risk for confirmed

> > cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, beginning

after

> > 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to

those

> > taking placebo, " Merck said in a release.

> >

> > " It's a major blow for Merck, " said Sena Lund, an analyst at

Cathay

> > Financial. " It was one of their five key drivers for future

growth. "

> >

> > Merck had expected Vioxx to help restore the company's earnings

growth

> > when the drug was launched in 1999, but its sales have been hurt

by

> > clinical trial data showing it increased the incidence of blood

clots

> > tied to strokes and heart attacks.

> >

> > Meanwhile, sales of Pfizer Inc.'s similar drugs, Celebrex and

Bextra,

> > have steadily grown as doctors have turned to those drugs, which

have

> > not been linked to heart attack and stroke.

> >

> > © Reuters 2004. .

> >

> > http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?

type=businessNews & storyID=6377485

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > I'll tell you where to go!

> >

> > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> >

> > s Hopkins Medicine

> > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

a, when you went off Vioxx, did you switch to another anti-

inflamatory and did your blood pressure stay normal? I've never

taken Vioxx--I take Celebrex--but this still makes me a little

nervous because I've had several friends tell me that their doctors

say the two are virtually the same. I've never had a BP problem,

though, except when I was taking Naprosyn.

> HORAY!!!!!!!! As one affected by the Vioxx, I'm happy to hear

this. My BP

> jumped considerably on Vioxx and returned to normal when I went off

of it.

> a

>

> > September 30, 2004

> >

> > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile,

Research) said

> > on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a

colon

> > cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises the

risk

> > of heart attack and stroke.

> >

> > Merck's shares plunged in pre-market trading after the

announcement.

> >

> > A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested

> > patients taking Vioxx faced a 50 percent greater risk of heart

attacks

> > and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N:

Quote,

> > Profile, Research) rival Celebrex treatment.

> >

> > Vioxx had sales last year of $2.55 billion. They have been flat in

> > recent years amid ongoing safety concerns.

> >

> > Merck said it is withdrawing the drug following data from a new

> > three-year trial of Vioxx, designed to evaluate the effectiveness

of the

> > drug's standard 25 milligram dose in preventing recurrence of

colorectal

> > polyps. Such polyps often become cancerous.

> >

> > " In this study, there was an increased relative risk for confirmed

> > cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, beginning

after

> > 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to

those

> > taking placebo, " Merck said in a release.

> >

> > " It's a major blow for Merck, " said Sena Lund, an analyst at

Cathay

> > Financial. " It was one of their five key drivers for future

growth. "

> >

> > Merck had expected Vioxx to help restore the company's earnings

growth

> > when the drug was launched in 1999, but its sales have been hurt

by

> > clinical trial data showing it increased the incidence of blood

clots

> > tied to strokes and heart attacks.

> >

> > Meanwhile, sales of Pfizer Inc.'s similar drugs, Celebrex and

Bextra,

> > have steadily grown as doctors have turned to those drugs, which

have

> > not been linked to heart attack and stroke.

> >

> > © Reuters 2004. .

> >

> > http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?

type=businessNews & storyID=6377485

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > I'll tell you where to go!

> >

> > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> >

> > s Hopkins Medicine

> > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

,

I think Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra have similar results in treating

arthritis, but Vioxx is the only one that has shown the problems that

led them to pull it.

Of course, whenever there is a drug on the market that is found to

have problems serious enough to pull it, it does make those who take

lots of drugs worry.

Jennie

> > HORAY!!!!!!!! As one affected by the Vioxx, I'm happy to hear

> this. My BP

> > jumped considerably on Vioxx and returned to normal when I went

off

> of it.

> > a

> >

> > > September 30, 2004

> > >

> > > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile,

> Research) said

> > > on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a

> colon

> > > cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises

the

> risk

> > > of heart attack and stroke.

> > >

> > > Merck's shares plunged in pre-market trading after the

> announcement.

> > >

> > > A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

suggested

> > > patients taking Vioxx faced a 50 percent greater risk of heart

> attacks

> > > and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer Inc.'s

(PFE.N:

> Quote,

> > > Profile, Research) rival Celebrex treatment.

> > >

> > > Vioxx had sales last year of $2.55 billion. They have been flat

in

> > > recent years amid ongoing safety concerns.

> > >

> > > Merck said it is withdrawing the drug following data from a new

> > > three-year trial of Vioxx, designed to evaluate the

effectiveness

> of the

> > > drug's standard 25 milligram dose in preventing recurrence of

> colorectal

> > > polyps. Such polyps often become cancerous.

> > >

> > > " In this study, there was an increased relative risk for

confirmed

> > > cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke,

beginning

> after

> > > 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to

> those

> > > taking placebo, " Merck said in a release.

> > >

> > > " It's a major blow for Merck, " said Sena Lund, an analyst at

> Cathay

> > > Financial. " It was one of their five key drivers for future

> growth. "

> > >

> > > Merck had expected Vioxx to help restore the company's earnings

> growth

> > > when the drug was launched in 1999, but its sales have been

hurt

> by

> > > clinical trial data showing it increased the incidence of blood

> clots

> > > tied to strokes and heart attacks.

> > >

> > > Meanwhile, sales of Pfizer Inc.'s similar drugs, Celebrex and

> Bextra,

> > > have steadily grown as doctors have turned to those drugs,

which

> have

> > > not been linked to heart attack and stroke.

> > >

> > > © Reuters 2004. .

> > >

> > > http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?

> type=businessNews & storyID=6377485

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > I'll tell you where to go!

> > >

> > > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> > >

> > > s Hopkins Medicine

> > > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

,

I think Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra have similar results in treating

arthritis, but Vioxx is the only one that has shown the problems that

led them to pull it.

Of course, whenever there is a drug on the market that is found to

have problems serious enough to pull it, it does make those who take

lots of drugs worry.

Jennie

> > HORAY!!!!!!!! As one affected by the Vioxx, I'm happy to hear

> this. My BP

> > jumped considerably on Vioxx and returned to normal when I went

off

> of it.

> > a

> >

> > > September 30, 2004

> > >

> > > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile,

> Research) said

> > > on Thursday withdrew its arthritis drug Vioxx globally after a

> colon

> > > cancer trial confirmed long-standing concerns the drug raises

the

> risk

> > > of heart attack and stroke.

> > >

> > > Merck's shares plunged in pre-market trading after the

> announcement.

> > >

> > > A recent study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

suggested

> > > patients taking Vioxx faced a 50 percent greater risk of heart

> attacks

> > > and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer Inc.'s

(PFE.N:

> Quote,

> > > Profile, Research) rival Celebrex treatment.

> > >

> > > Vioxx had sales last year of $2.55 billion. They have been flat

in

> > > recent years amid ongoing safety concerns.

> > >

> > > Merck said it is withdrawing the drug following data from a new

> > > three-year trial of Vioxx, designed to evaluate the

effectiveness

> of the

> > > drug's standard 25 milligram dose in preventing recurrence of

> colorectal

> > > polyps. Such polyps often become cancerous.

> > >

> > > " In this study, there was an increased relative risk for

confirmed

> > > cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke,

beginning

> after

> > > 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to

> those

> > > taking placebo, " Merck said in a release.

> > >

> > > " It's a major blow for Merck, " said Sena Lund, an analyst at

> Cathay

> > > Financial. " It was one of their five key drivers for future

> growth. "

> > >

> > > Merck had expected Vioxx to help restore the company's earnings

> growth

> > > when the drug was launched in 1999, but its sales have been

hurt

> by

> > > clinical trial data showing it increased the incidence of blood

> clots

> > > tied to strokes and heart attacks.

> > >

> > > Meanwhile, sales of Pfizer Inc.'s similar drugs, Celebrex and

> Bextra,

> > > have steadily grown as doctors have turned to those drugs,

which

> have

> > > not been linked to heart attack and stroke.

> > >

> > > © Reuters 2004. .

> > >

> > > http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?

> type=businessNews & storyID=6377485

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > I'll tell you where to go!

> > >

> > > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> > >

> > > s Hopkins Medicine

> > > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >