Comments on: Whytorin? Merck Cholesterol Pills Face Another Test http://www.pharmalot.com/2009/11/whytorin-merck-cholesterol-pills-face-another-test/ News, Comment and Conversation Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:42:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Condor http://www.pharmalot.com/2009/11/whytorin-merck-cholesterol-pills-face-another-test/#comment-444744 Condor Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:44:43 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=19751#comment-444744 Okay -- earlier today, Merck CEO Dick Clark commented, for Reuters, on how well-prepared his team is/will be to answer the likely science challenges a negative outcome in <i>Arbiter 6 - HALTS</i> might bring. [That's why I post this here. . . .] But CEO Clark <b><i>also fielded questions about his ultimate successor at New Merck</i></b>, as by the end of 2010, he'll be approaching mandatory retirement age, there. . . . All of which has led me -- perhaps immodestly so -- to <a href="http://shearlingsplowed.blogspot.com/2009/11/who-will-succeed-dick-clark-at-merck-in.html" rel="nofollow">show-off my decidedly <b><i>old-skool</i> GIF-animation <i>skillz</i></b></a>, in creating a visual satire (which of course, Ed, you are free to use, anywhere -- and in any fashion). Shucks -- it is public domain, by my declaration. Take and re-post, freely. Do understand, though -- it is <i>satire</i>. I'll post the URL for the stand-alone .gif animation file -- if anyone asks, in a later comment, for easy downloading. Namaste, and 'night, all. . . . Okay — earlier today, Merck CEO Dick Clark commented, for Reuters, on how well-prepared his team is/will be to answer the likely science challenges a negative outcome in Arbiter 6 - HALTS might bring.

[That's why I post this here. . . .]

But CEO Clark also fielded questions about his ultimate successor at New Merck, as by the end of 2010, he’ll be approaching mandatory retirement age, there. . . .

All of which has led me — perhaps immodestly so — to show-off my decidedly old-skool GIF-animation skillz, in creating a visual satire (which of course, Ed, you are free to use, anywhere — and in any fashion). Shucks — it is public domain, by my declaration. Take and re-post, freely.

Do understand, though — it is satire.

I’ll post the URL for the stand-alone .gif animation file — if anyone asks, in a later comment, for easy downloading.

Namaste, and ‘night, all. . . .

]]> By: CV Doc http://www.pharmalot.com/2009/11/whytorin-merck-cholesterol-pills-face-another-test/#comment-444652 CV Doc Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:02:12 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=19751#comment-444652 Whytorin indeed? Ezetimibe has not been proven to do anything but lowering cholesterol through the inhibition of absorption. many questions remain. What else does it inhibit the absorption of? Is that good or bad? Does it do anything for atherosclerosis? Does it prevent cardiovascualr events? Is it safe? What about cancer? Sorry, but I can't use this drug on faith. The time has come to see some real data. And plaeas don't let me wait another 4-5 years until IMPROVE-IT is done - if ever! Whytorin indeed? Ezetimibe has not been proven to do anything but lowering cholesterol through the inhibition of absorption. many questions remain. What else does it inhibit the absorption of? Is that good or bad? Does it do anything for atherosclerosis? Does it prevent cardiovascualr events? Is it safe? What about cancer? Sorry, but I can’t use this drug on faith. The time has come to see some real data. And plaeas don’t let me wait another 4-5 years until IMPROVE-IT is done - if ever!

]]> By: Condor http://www.pharmalot.com/2009/11/whytorin-merck-cholesterol-pills-face-another-test/#comment-444566 Condor Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:31:48 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=19751#comment-444566 If Arbiter 6 - HALTS was stopped for the reasons most suspect, it <i>might</i> be a good idea for Merck to quietly "<i>fold the tent</i>", on the IMPROVE-IT study. That result won't be available until early 2013, in all likelihood, now. [It hasn't even reached the <i>half-way marker</i>, yet.] By 2013, the game in this market will already be over. And IMPROVE-IT is a very large, very expensive study -- the aim of which is to show an actual cardiovascular-risk benefits, from taking Vytorin. In short, it <i>might</i> be time for Merck to stop re-arranging the deckchairs on <i>Titanic</i>. She's <i>sailed</i>, mate. Namaste If Arbiter 6 - HALTS was stopped for the reasons most suspect, it might be a good idea for Merck to quietly “fold the tent“, on the IMPROVE-IT study. That result won’t be available until early 2013, in all likelihood, now. [It hasn't even reached the half-way marker, yet.]

By 2013, the game in this market will already be over. And IMPROVE-IT is a very large, very expensive study — the aim of which is to show an actual cardiovascular-risk benefits, from taking Vytorin.

In short, it might be time for Merck to stop re-arranging the deckchairs on Titanic. She’s sailed, mate.

Namaste

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