Merck Rep Who Was on 'Survivor' Said of Vioxx: "I Knew Damn Well It Was Dangerous"

(MoneyWatch)  A former Vioxx sales rep for Merck who appeared on "Survivor: Gabon" told a reality TV show web site, "Selling drugs is a lie. ... I sold Vioxx for Merck before it got taken off the market for killing people. I knew damn well it was dangerous; I went around telling them to write it."

The quote appeared in an interview with Corinne Kaplan (pictured) last September on RealityBlurred.com, but was dug out of the memory hole over the Memorial Day weekend by Pharmagossip.

Kaplan was the 12th castaway to be eliminated in that show. She initially wanted to be on The Bachelor but didn't make the cut. RealityBlurred has a great sound file of the interview, for all you Merckatroids who want to hear your ex-colleague's voice again. The article said:

"Nobody gives a shit about reality show stars anyway, and if all of America hates me, that's just idiotic," she said. "If I win a million because I'm a total bitch, then you should applaud that.

"I have no moral compass. ... Selling drugs is a lie. I sold drugs that I knew damn well -- I sold Vioxx for Merck before it got taken off the market for killing people. I knew damn well it was dangerous; I went around telling them to write it. There's a lot of serious lying I've done in my life," she said.

"I'm doing a job. For me, in that case, Merck told me to go out and sell drug even though I had hesitation about it. It's not for me to say. ... Don't listen to me. Read your fucking journals. Why the fuck are you listening to your rep? Just because I'm pretty? You think I know more about the drug? No."

Sadly -- or not -- she didn't have a great time in Gabon. She told RealityTVWorld.com:

... they all treated me basically like a leper.

• Previously:
• Merck Exec Quits After YouTube Gross-Out Video Got Too Much Negative Attention
• Merck Paid "Nurses" to Comb Medical Records for Potential Vioxx Patients
• Docs Say Merck Placed Their Names on Ghostwritten Vioxx Articles
• Merck Created Hit List to "Destroy," "Neutralize" or "Discredit" Dissenting Doctors
• New Merck Allegations: A Fake Journal; Ghostwritten Studies; Vioxx Pop Songs; PR Execs Harass Reporters