The Lancet on Vioxx

The Lancet with an editorial on Vioxx. Some choice words, implicating direct-to-consumer marketing:

. . . in their review paper specifically highlighting the cardiovascular sideeffect profile of COX-2 inhibitors. Concerns were shared by the FDA, who implemented labelling changes in 2002 to reflect the findings from the VIGOR trial.

However, even following these warnings, and in the face of mounting evidence for the cardiovascular side-effects of rofecoxib, aggressive direct-to-consumer marketing of this questionable drug continued unabated.

. . . The Vioxx story is one of blindly aggressive marketing by Merck mixed with repeated episodes of complacency by drug regulators. We need clear statements from all parties in this sorry tale about the lessons to be learned.

Without more vigilant drug regulation in the future, doctors will continue to be misled and patients’ lives will continue to be endangered.