Schering and Merck Are Settling Vytorin Suits

Still think they have any idea of what a "safe" drug is?

"Merck and Schering-Plough agreed Wednesday to pay $41.5 million to settle class-action lawsuits that accused them of withholding unfavorable results of a clinical trial of the cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia.

The companies came under intense scrutiny in January 2008 after they released a study — completed nearly two years earlier — that showed that the medicines, the work of a joint venture, were no more effective in unclogging arteries than a pre-existing and less expensive cholesterol treatment...

Merck and Schering-Plough continued to defend their drugs’ efficacy and safety and did not acknowledge any wrongdoing or liability as part of the settlement. Merck’s general counsel, Bruce N. Kuhlik, said the settlement allowed the companies to avoid mounting legal costs."

Of course.

Better to be fit, than drugged.