Tim Derk sues the makers of Vioxx

[TampaDude]

BFTD thread...wow...<cough cough>...it's kinda dusty in here...

[Bob Lanier]

I love how the Pharmaceutical Pimp in this thread is more than happy to apologize for that industry making money, but then goes to the "greedy lawyers" card.

No kidding.

And Merck is just as much a bunch of assholes as any of the rest of us are, silly American rambling about "socialism" aside - and believe me, we're all assholes.

[tlongII]

I understand that Vioxxx may have caused his stroke, but why was Tim Derk taking anti-inflammatories daily for two years?

I've taken Celebrex daily for over 5 years. It's the only thing that works for osteo-arthritis in my experience.

[Man of Steel]

Tlong--

Take more.

Lots more.

Lots lots more...

[nfg3]

My mom took Vioxxx for a long time before her stroke, too.

Ditto. She took if for about a year or so for her arthritis. Tehen it got pulled from teh market. She then developed heart problems along with the stoke she had.

[MiamiHeat]

Jerks?

I think not.

You see, I used to make that product. I'm "one of those jerks."

People don't seem to realize that Merck (and I'm no longer an employee of that organization) is one of the most ethical of all the major drug companies. There is a mantra at that company that is posted prominently in all facilities. That mantra is "We never try to forget that medicine is for the people," said George Merck, son of Merck's founder. "It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear."

That mantra is an influence in every facet of how that company runs its business. Errors were made in the Vioxx launch, that's clear.

But to say that they were intentional or covered up to deliberately mislead the public is simply feeding on the rhetoric of greedy ambulance chasing lawyers. I know one of the women who was a lead scientist on the development of Vioxx. I can tell you that hurting people was the last thing that Cheryl wanted to do...and that people were hurt will haunt her for the rest of her life.

You'll (please) note that Merck quickly pulled Vioxx, while Pfizer continues to see its equally dangerous COX-II NSAID with reckless abandon. Go through the FDA CDER FOI page and look at the industry warning letters. You'll see many from Pfizer for misleading ads and poor GMP compliance. You'll see very little on Merck.

Merck is a great company and they do not brag on or make ads about the many good deeds they do. How many people have heard about river blindness? Several years ago, a Merck scientist found that rural Africans were suffering from a parasite that caused blindness. He worked with his company (Merck) to find a cure. The company then began to donate -- that is, give away for FREE -- a drug therapy. Once Merck realized that the doctor infrastructure was not in place in Africa for distribution of this drug, Merck began to fund doctors to go to Africa to distribute the product.

But they're not running commercials about it.

Why?

Because it's the right thing to do -- and medicine is, after all, "for the people - not for the profits."

Carter Center on Merck and river blindness

what are you, their public relations guy?

drug companies are in it for tha money. they dont find cures, they find drugs that temporarily treat your problem for the rest of your life. they dont want to heal you, they want to keep you buying their drug.

why should they sell you a bottle to cure you when they can get a membership from you and you buy a bottle for the rest of your life?

[SouthernFried]

It's the drug companies fault people take drugs.

Btw, those are some gorgeous s gals.

[PlayoffEx-static]

Lawsuit bad.

Gub-mint good

Ugh.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

I understand that Vioxxx may have caused his stroke, but why was Tim Derk taking anti-inflammatories daily for two years?

I was taking celebrex for my torn meniscus. I helped alleviate any inflammation.

[MiamiHeat]

we trust drug companies to help us but facts are facts, the USA system of capitalism and medicine is a horrible mix. it's literally a conflict of interest.
making money over your health.

[tlongII]

we trust drug companies to help us but facts are facts, the USA system of capitalism and medicine is a horrible mix. it's literally a conflict of interest.
making money over your health.

And yet the USA has the best medical facilities and treatment in the world...

[Bob Lanier]

MiamiHeat isn't quite as correct as his/her certainty would indicate, but your response is a complete non sequitur.

The Saüdis have some of the best living facilities in the world...