Zetia and Vytorin News
New Jersey appeals court rules in Vytorin case
Earlier this month a New Jersey appeals court ordered the maker of the cholesterol drug Vytorin, a combination of Zocor and Zetia, to make meeting minutes available to shareholders who want to review records because they say investors were harmed when results of a study showing the effectiveness of the medication was delayed. In January 2008 the companies released the study called ENHANCE that had been finished in 2006. Merck and Schering-Plough were criticized for not releasing the data earlier, and didn’t do so until Congress began investigating the delay. More »
Zetia patients may face increased risk of heart attack and other side effects
A new study has found that patients taking Zetia may be five times more likely to suffer heart attacks or other serious side effects than those who are prescribed another cholesterol treatment. Researchers in the study also found that Zetia was much less effective at treating atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in the arteries—than another cholesterol drug, Niaspan. More »
Zetia patients may face increased risk of heart attack and other side effects
A new study has found that patients taking Zetia may be five times more likely to suffer heart attacks or other serious side effects than those who take another cholesterol treatment. Researchers in the study also found that Zetia was much less effective at treating atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in the arteries—than another cholesterol drug, Niaspan. More »
Drugmakers to pay $41.5M to settle Zetia and Vytorin lawsuits
The manufacturers of the cholesterol drugs Zetia and Vytorin have agreed to pay $41.5 million to settle several class action lawsuits filed by insurers and former patients. The lawsuits allege that drugmakers Merck and Schering-Plough overcharged plaintiffs by misleading them about the effectiveness of the two drugs compared to other cholesterol-lowering medications. More »
Vytorin fails to meet study goals, increases cancer rates
A new study investigating the side effects of Vytorin found that the cholesterol drug increased cancer rates while failing to reduce the risk of complications from heart disease. The study compared the effectiveness of Vytorin with that of a placebo at treating a cardiovascular condition known as aortic stenosis. More »