Crusader, no. “Strong advocate”, yes. Meet Eric Topol’s replacement at the Cleveland Clinic:

In an interview Sunday, Nissen said he prefers to “stick to the science” in debates about drug safety. The characterization is an apparent allusion to Topol’s condemnation of Merck, maker of Vioxx, whose behavior he called “repulsive” and “appalling” during a federal trial over whether the drug contributed to a Florida man’s death.

The Toledo native said he is not a crusader trying to take down the drug industry but an advocate for public health and, as such, calls for reporting all clinical trial results, even if they’re negative. He noted that he consults with many drug companies, including Merck, making him something of an insider.