Excerpts of Merck’s Ghostwritten Drug Studies
A NY Times article reports that Merck hired writers to write drug studies first, then have prominent doctors sign them. The strategy got the studies published, but at the possible expense of credibility.
Here are a few excerpts of the studies:
“In absolute agony Jim shielded his eyes from the florescent lights as Dr. Getwell called his name. Dr. Getwell gave him a pill. Was it ‘Truth’ or was it placebo? There was only one way to find out. As he washed the pill down with a half empty Dixie cup of water Jim asked, ‘Can a miracle taste like shit?’…” - “Call it a Miracle”, JAMA pg 43.
“Mandy hugged her father. “Daddy, you’re going to change the world with this study.” She took a step back and raised her palm-palms in the air and started her special cheer, ” Spell it V-i-o-x-x. That’s the pain drug for success!” That morning he walked out the door knowing that she was right…” - “Vioxx In An Unbiased View”, NE Journal of Arthropathy pg 102.
“Ralph, who hasn’t said a word since the war not only bedded a fine woman eight hours after taking Hyzaar, he also had a colon clean as his rifle…” - Collon Cancer as Hell”, AFN: Medicine pg 16, c4.
“Merck’s super-drug Crixivan vs. Agouron’s suck-drug Viracept: A direct comparison study. Of the total population (n=349) the subjects in pool C1 named ”dudes who basically will not have AIDS” took Crixivan (c=175) and basically did not have AIDS. Dudes who were unfortunate enough to be in pool V1 “Dudes who will basically have AIDS” were forced to take Viracept (v=223) and basically had AIDS…” - “Merck’s super-drug Crixivan vs. Agouron’s suck-drug Viracept” Journal of Medicine Basically pg 50 give or take.
