Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1393

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Merck Subpoenaed On Sales Activities
Wall Street Journal 2003 Aug 14

Full text:

Merck & Co. received a subpoena from the U.S. government for documents about the company’s marketing and sales activities, according to the company’s quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Merck, Whitehouse Station, N.J., said the subpoena seeks “substantially the same information” as the government previously sought. According to the filing, the Justice Department is investigating the marketing and selling activities of Merck and other pharmaceuticals companies. What specifically the Justice Department is investigating is unclear. Merck said it is working with the government to respond to the subpoena and other information requests. Officials at Merck couldn’t be reached for comment. Schering-Plough Corp. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. have said they were subpoenaed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. Both companies said they are cooperating with the investigation.