Comments on: The Real Problem With Those Vytorin Ads http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/ News, Comment and Conversation Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:44:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: David http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-290325 David Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:54:41 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-290325 Have any mainstream news reporters figured out that the most logical explanation for ENHANCE results is that the cardio-protective effects of statins are due to their anti-inflammatory effect that reduces the biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP), which was reduced more by Vytorin than by Zocor alone in the study that so many did not understand? Are cardiologists more stupid than other medical specialists? Stupidity and "group-think" herd mentality in support of the unsubstantiated "cholesterol is bad" theory is responsible for this tempest in a teapot, which MRK has not managed very well from a PR perspective, admittedly, likely because of the Vioxx aftermath. Why don't cardiologists pay more attention to CRP than to the uncorrelated-with-outcomes cholesterol levels which they routinely focus on? When i had a checku with a board certified internal medicine PCP, she wanted me on 80 mg of simvastatin based solely on my Total Cholesterol being slightly over 200. She was clueless about CRP. Have any mainstream news reporters figured out that the most logical explanation for ENHANCE results is that the cardio-protective effects of statins are due to their anti-inflammatory effect that reduces the biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP), which was reduced more by Vytorin than by Zocor alone in the study that so many did not understand?

Are cardiologists more stupid than other medical specialists? Stupidity and “group-think” herd mentality in support of the unsubstantiated “cholesterol is bad” theory is responsible for this tempest in a teapot, which MRK has not managed very well from a PR perspective, admittedly, likely because of the Vioxx aftermath.

Why don’t cardiologists pay more attention to CRP than to the uncorrelated-with-outcomes cholesterol levels which they routinely focus on?

When i had a checku with a board certified internal medicine PCP, she wanted me on 80 mg of simvastatin based solely on my Total Cholesterol being slightly over 200.

She was clueless about CRP.

]]> By: Dan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-282119 Dan Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:45:42 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-282119 While vaque, I mis-typed and missed the 90 day statement by DDMAC. My apologies. While vaque, I mis-typed and missed the 90 day statement by DDMAC. My apologies.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-282069 Ed Silverman Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:35:06 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-282069 Hi Dan, Please click on page three of the letter, which you can see by first clicking on 'read more.' You'll see that the FDA indicates the drugmakers had to reply by Feb. 6 and had 90 days to revise the ads. Cheers ed Hi Dan,

Please click on page three of the letter, which you can see by first clicking on ‘read more.’ You’ll see that the FDA indicates the drugmakers had to reply by Feb. 6 and had 90 days to revise the ads.

Cheers
ed

]]> By: Dan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-281758 Dan Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:27:24 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/04/the-real-problem-with-those-vytorin-ads/#comment-281758 Equally interesting is that DDMAC is not requiring a response from the drugmakers, or a specific time for the drugmakers to respond. Equally interesting is that DDMAC is not requiring a response from the drugmakers, or a specific time for the drugmakers to respond.

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