Yesterday a Merck witness testified at the Humeston trial that it was "completely outrageous" to claim that the company put profits ahead of safety.
As most following the Vioxx cases will know, a Merck study (VIGOR) compared Vioxx with other painkillers as to stomach bleeding. The witness said she assumed that Vioxx had no effect on heart attacks and strokes.
She actually testified that Merck "thought, based on the totality of the data, that naproxen had a cardioprotective effect."
My comment: Merck defense seems to be: Vioxx safe. Client sick.
