Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15550

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: Journal Article

Moynihan R.
Merck disguised 'marketing publication' as medical journal to help promote Vioxx, court hears.
BMJ. 2009 Apr 28; 338:b1714:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/338/apr28_1/b1714

Abstract:

The Federal Court in Australia has heard allegations that the drug company Merck produced an entire medical journal as part of its marketing campaign to allay safety fears about Vioxx (rofecoxib), its cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, which was withdrawn in 2004.

The allegations came during testimony from George Jelinek, an emergency doctor and journal editor. Dr Jelinek was called as an expert witness by lawyers acting for Graeme Peterson, who had a heart attack in 2003 after taking rofecoxib for several years and is lead plaintiff in a class action.

Strongly defending the action, Merck’s position is that the drug didn’t cause the heart attack, and the company will present evidence showing it acted responsibly. Although Merck has paid almost $5bn (£3.4bn; 3.8bn) to settle US cases related to rofecoxib, it has not admitted causation, fault, or liability.

Dr Jelinek gave evidence that the Australasian Journal of Bone and Joint Medicine, . . .