Re: Merck's drug "Vioxx" is taken off shelves

That does explain it alright, thanks. Ya, you are not much of a Conspiracy wonk, likely a good thing!!

I do jump to Conspiracy [someone's got to do it!]as a default... which I can defend, but not here.

"18 months" was the key. I had not heard than on the initial report I responded to, but you and the TV said it later. That helps me understand why this came out now like this.

Remaining questions?
1] Were the original studies, the ones they spend all those millions on as part of the "onerous application procedure", not able to find this link to heart attack and strokes? Do those tests not go for 18 mos?

I mean, we are supposed to TRUST the drugs, because they have been so well tested. Then a HUGE deal like this shows up - where was that during the orignal testing?

I suspect it was there all along. They just got around it, FDA puppets being the only gaurdian, so nobody knew...

Q2] Did it pay off? The share price loss today, the lawsuits, the pills they have to throw out now... how could that have paid off?
$3/4 billion profit for each of the 5[?] years Vioxx has been on the market. [$750,ooo,ooo U.S.]. YUP, it paid off overall. $5.5 billion minus today's costs is still a good profit.

That might be wrong too, but I can trust NOTHING about a pharmaceutical drug company. They have shown too much willingness to play with our lives and health for profits.

Q3] Are the other COX-2 inhibitor pills [Celebrex, for one] going to be taken off the market too? Is there generics out yet?

Q4 ] are there any pills that have been produced in the past 20 years that do not have seriously harmfull side effects? We heard of Paxil's problems, and now Vioxx, these are the two of the most common drugs out there. Prevacid is all wrong for ulcers; Statin drugs are causing serious problems too.

I guess we are aging, but we are taking more pills than ever and we are sicker than ever...

Jawg