Meanwhile, in another potentially ominous development for Merck, the AP is reporting that it has obtained documents showing that Merck began work on a method of reducing the cardiovascular dangers of Cox-2 inhibitors in 1998, a fact that critics are likely to interpret as proof that the company was fully aware of the risks associated with the drug before it went on the market in 1999.
- see this story from the AP
PLUS: The next Vioxx case starts September 12 in Atlantic City. Former Marine Frederick Humeston blames the painkiller for his 2001 heart attack. Story