Jim Fitzpatrick Clinical Quotations

The clinical study Merck conducted that lead it to voluntarily withdraw the drug only revealed an increased risk after 18 months of daily use. Mr. Humeston only took Vioxx intermittently for less than two months. The science just isn't there to support his claim.

It doesn't change our strategy whatsoever. It's an observational study, where you're just looking back into a database. That's very different and less reliable scientifically than when you look at clinical trials. The clinical trial data has been consistent in showing that there's no increased health risk in short-term use.