The ACC Vytorin Statement And Pharma Ties
7 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // January 16th, 2008 // 12:18 pm
Last night, the American College of Cardiology issued a statement urging docs and patients not to panic over the results of the controversial Vytorin trial, which found no statistical difference in plaque in arteries being measured. The findings generated tremendous publicity this week because Merck and Schering-Plough delayed releasing the results for two years and then, briefly, changed the primary endpoint - without consulting the lead researcher. Congress is investigating the delay. Steve Nissen called for a moratorium on Vytorin. Investors sold Merck and Schering-Plough stock.
Here’s a curious side note - the ACC statement was issued in response to numerous queries from docs, nurses and the media, according to an ACC spokeswoman. It was drafted by an unnamed group of ACC leaders and so-called prevention experts, and approved by the ACC president. Among those involved was Roger Blumenthal, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, who chairs the ACC’s committee on prevention of cardiovascular disease.
However, Blumenthal is also on the speaker’s bureau for Merck and Schering-Plough, and has received unspecified research grants from Merck. The ACC spokeswoman writes us that “the statement doesn’t represent anyone’s individual views…That did not influence the language in any way…The statement was from ACC - not Blumenthal. He was not the only one involved.” The others involved weren’t disclosed.
We’re not suggesting that Blumenthal was somehow swayed by his ties to the drugmakers in offering his opinion as the ACC statement was crafted. We hope not. But those responsible for contributing to and authorizing the statement - and their relevant connections - should have been noted. After all, Merck and Schering-Plough last year retained a panel to revieiw the Vytorin data and insisted the experts were independent, but it turns out that three of them have research, grant or consulting ties to the drugmakers. Given the ruckus, disclosure from all parties is warranted. More sunlight and less fog would be helpful.
[UPDATE: As Health Care Renewal notes, the American Heart Association, which also issued a statement today supporting Vytorin use, receives substantial funding from both drugmakers, according to its 2007 report. And the blog writes that AHA president Dan Jones formerly served as a consultant to Merck.]
Tomas
The ACC statement was no doubt bought and paid for by the companies. The big hired guns are really coming out now. You can bet that someone from the Pharma Mafia called in the FAVOR! The “prestigiuos” societies that have their hands in the money bags of the Big Pharma companies. Ever been to an ACC meeting? The exhibit hall is a joke. Each pharma company trying to outdo the other regarding the lavishness of their display. Each company trying to parade out their latest “puppet” for all to see. These companies sunk their own ship and now the ACC and AHA are trying to save them!
Francis
I’m a cardiologist and a member of the ACC. They should stay out of it! I’m embarrassed. Who wrote the statement? Harvard and Duke?? Congress needs to expand it’s investigation of Merck and Schering-Plough and look into how much money they feed these societies and the academic experts that are in bed with them!
Duke
I guess the ACC was compelled to respond after the reckless comments by their President. Nissen has had an axe to grind with Vytorin since before it was launched. He must be burning from the commercial success of Vytorin which is unmatched in its ability to reduce LDL. According to Nissen, patients should take Zocor. He failed to mention that in ENHANCE that the Zocor arm did not reduce IMT either. Doesn’t that tell us something about the patient population or the analysis of the images? I guess you can get away with that when you have the bully pulpit. Oh, and by the way, I don’t work for Schering or Merck.
John
But do you work with Duke? AKA Schering-plough south!
Razwell
Anthony Colpo exposes how cholesterol - lowering has repeatedly been proven USELESS and potentially harmful
“The Great Cholesterol Con” exposes this ./ Look up the Framingham Heart Study ,The Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial, AtoZ Trial,The J-LIT Trial
ALL of these show cholesterol - lowering is USELESS and potentially harmful.
The Cholesterol Theory of coronary heart disease has no scientific validity and was started by the FRAUD of Ancel Keys study in which he deliberately omitted data that was avilable at the time that contradicted his false ideas on saturated fat
Razwell
Dr. Uffe Ravnskov, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick and the scientists at THINCS all expose this too.
Please look into this and spread the facts everywhere and expose this SHAM
Cardiology Group Backpedals On Vytorin Flap | Pharmacy Tips
[...] and Schering-Plough, and has received unspecified research grants from Merck. An ACC spokeswoman last week told us the statement didn’t reflect the views of any one [...]