In March 2000, after reviewing the results of a clinical study of the pain-reliever Vioxx, Merck’s research chief, Edward Scolnick, typed an email. In it he said that evidence of heart-related risks from Vioxx was “clearly there”. Merck did not mention Scolnick’s conclusion publicly, however, and it kept selling Vioxx for four more years.
Several months ago, after Merck withdrew Vioxx from the market and Scolnick’s email was revealed, the events seemed a clear case of fraud or negligence: Merck knew its drug was risky and didn’t say so.
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