More Problems For Vytorin Makers

(CBS)  You've heard the commercial: "Cholesterol comes from two sources."

And it looks like Vytorin's problems are coming from two sources as well, CBS News correspondent Susan Koeppen reports.

First, from Capitol Hill, where Congress wants to know why it took the drug-makers Schering-Plough and Merck almost two years to reveal results of a study showing that Vytorin, which combines Zocor with Zetia, is no more effective than Zocor alone.

"The drug from a health point of view, is not what it's advertised," said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich.

Stupak signed and sent letters today to both drugmakers requesting documentation about what they knew and when they knew it - and whether they withheld information to protect their profits.

Vytorin is more expensive than Zocor, which is available generically.

"Schering-Plough and Merck were supposed to provide information by 5 p.m. last night. At 4:50 they dropped off very incomplete files," Stupak said. "We need the information."

The letter also expresses concern about Vytorin's direct-to-consumer advertising campaign.

"It's just a fraud," Stupak said."

The second source of problems comes from inside Shering-Plough itself. Turns out President Carrie Smith Cox sold 900,000 shares of stock worth $28 million last spring. That's after the study was completed, but well before the findings were made public this week.

Both Schering-Plough and Merck told CBS News that they did not find out the results of the study done by outside researchers until two weeks ago.

But the drug-makers had plenty of reasons not to want that information made public - almost half a million prescriptions for Vytorin are written every week.

[esteban2007-2009]

More criminal fraud from an industry that needs as much reform/regulation as the credit card industry.

[darkfyreaol]

Before people started dosing up on these new "wonder drugs", I don''t think I''ve ever HEARD of ''restless leg syndrome'' - other than the need to get out and exercise. Which actually does me GOOD.

[darkfyreaol]

Diet and exercise CAN take care of cholesterol - despite what the drug companies say - you DON''T need drugs for it. Diets high in whole grain wheat can lower it.

[jayshootz]

My mother was on statin drugs for 12+ years. After a switch to Vytorin we noticed she was experiencing muscle weakness in her hands. Now she is showing symptoms of ALS. I do think that Vytorin was a cause of her illness. I know if several other cases in which people have experienced similar side effects. These drugs need to be seriously investigated and people need to be aware of these side effects before it is too late.

[ollywho]

I have been on Vytorin for about 4 years and it has served me well. What a let down to find out that it was a big ripp off. Was on Zocor but due to muscle ache doctor swithced me to Vytorin. Meeting with doctor end of month. will have to wait to see what he says.

[baileyccc]

jerr11 hit the nail on the head with his response. The biggest scam ever by Big Pharma(and there has been plenty)is the cholesterol myth. What a money maker it has been. They have made it the first order of business for all physicians to put uninformed patients on these statin poisons. These are the most profitable drugs of Big Pharma, a real cash cow. They make financial incentives to the physicians that are too good to be true. The doctors do what is best for their bank accounts, not what is best for the patients. Big Pharma has a massive track record of these ethical practices.

[chgo22phx]

Well, well, well. As for this Vytorin story: When is the American public going to get wise to all of this? The drug companies have been telling us for years that the reason that drug prices are SO high is to pay for research into new drugs (even though, they sell the SAME drugs to Canadians for much less). I think that we are all aware of how much money commercials cost on network TV. I do remember that on the web as well as on TV how many Vytorin commercials that I see daily (until yesterday when they curiously went missing).
How much of what we pay for these questionable drugs go to their advertising budget? And how many people in OUR(?) government are working for the drug companies or are anticipating employment with them?
The American people need to get our heads out of our collective iPods, etc and start watching the people that are selling us a bill of goods. I do believe that pretty much all of the problems with health care in this country can be solved by standing up to the drug company lobbyists (bullies) and their cronies in Washington and saying ENOUGH!!!

[jerr11]

The drug companies are the biggest leeches of them all, followed by trial lawyers.

The cholesterol scare is a myth, created by greedy drug corporations.

Same companies who''re giving us restless legs syndrome, what next?

Restless fingers syndrome? That''s for Cheney.

Restless lips syndrome? That''s Larry King.

Excuse me while I take care of my restless bowel syndrome.