Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
2008/09/03 17:29 (Reuters Munich, 2nd)
A controversial study on the safety of the cholesterol drug "Vytorin" by Merck & Co and Schering-Plough was presented in full at Europe's largest medical conference today, sparking debates among experts.
Researchers involved in the SEAS study stated that there is no credible evidence linking Vytorin to cancer, and the higher number of cancer cases observed in clinical trials was merely a matter of chance.
However, the influential New England Journal of Medicine published the full details of the Vytorin study online and noted in an editorial that the drug's safety is now in question, with several leading physicians expressing concerns.
The complete report of the clinical study involving 1,873 patients showed that 105 Vytorin users developed cancer, compared to 70 in the placebo control group, revising the earlier summary of 93 vs. 65 released in July.
Some cardiologists remain cautious. Heinz Drexel, a medical professor at the University of Innsbruck in Austria and spokesperson for the European Society of Cardiology, said, "I am quite concerned, and I would not take such a drug myself at this time."
Updated: 2008/09/03 11:52
Safety of Cholesterol Drug "Vytorin" Questioned by New England Journal of Medicine
A controversial study on the safety of the cholesterol drug "Vytorin" by Merck & Co and Schering-Plough was presented in full at Europe's largest medical conference today, sparking debates among experts.
Researchers involved in the SEAS study stated that there is no credible evidence linking Vytorin to cancer, and the higher number of cancer cases observed in clinical trials was merely a matter of chance.
However, the influential New England Journal of Medicine published the full details of the Vytorin study online and noted in an editorial that the drug's safety is now in question, with several leading physicians expressing concerns.
The complete report of the clinical study involving 1,873 patients showed that 105 Vytorin users developed cancer, compared to 70 in the placebo control group, revising the earlier summary of 93 vs. 65 released in July.
Some cardiologists remain cautious. Heinz Drexel, a medical professor at the University of Innsbruck in Austria and spokesperson for the European Society of Cardiology, said, "I am quite concerned, and I would not take such a drug myself at this time."
Updated: 2008/09/03 11:52