Merck Epidemiologist Santanello: “At that time we didn’t think there was any risk.”

According to The Associated Press (AP), Merck & Co.’s top epidemiologist, Nancy Santanello, gave testimony at the Ernst trial in Texas on July 20, 2005 to the effect that Merck did not do any significant drug-safety studies on whether Vioxx could cause heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular problems before Vioxx was brought to the U.S. market in May 1999.

On July 20 the AP reported that Nancy Santanello, head of Merck’s epidemiology department, has testified at this first Vioxx trial in Texas that nothing in Merck’s adverse events database prior to the time that Vioxx was approved by the FDA in 1999 had indicated that Vioxx could cause heart attacks.  Specifically, Ms. Santanello testified: “At that time we didn’t think there was any risk.”

Ms. Santanello’s testimony at the Ernst trial is seemingly consistent with Merck’s long-standing contention that the drug company has acted responsibly as regards Vioxx.  Merck claims it had no reason to believe that Vioxx was not safe until just before they removed Vioxx from the market in September 2004.  In turn, Merck and its attorneys have vowed to fight each and every one of the 4100 Vioxx lawsuits which have been filed across the country.

(Posted by: Tom Lamb)