DRUG companies Merck & Co and Schering-Plough Corp will cooperate in the probe into cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who wants to know if the companies hid research.
Cuomo's investigation focuses on the marketing of the drug and sales of the companies' shares before the negative results were made public, the attorney general's office said.
A study released on January 14 showed that Vytorin, a combination of the drugs Zocor and Zetia which had US$5 billion in sales in 2007, may be no more effective at reducing plaque buildup inside the arteries than Zocor alone, said Bloomberg News.
New York's Medicaid program for those with low incomes has paid about US$21 million for Vytorin in the past two years rather than buying a cheaper generic version that might be at least comparable to the name brand, Cuomo said.
"We are aware of the subpoenas and will cooperate with the New York attorney general," said Schering-Plough spokeswoman Rosemarie Yancosek. "We stand behind our products as we have done nothing wrong."
"Merck received the subpoenas and will cooperate fully," said spokesman Chris Garland. "Merck stands behind the safety and efficacy profiles of Zetia and Vytorin. We acted with integrity and good faith with respect to the trial."
The attorney general also sought information to determine whether insider sales of stock were appropriate and whether statements to investors were accurate. He declined, however, to pinpoint any specific trading in the shares of Merck or Schering-Plough.
Carrie Smith Cox, a Schering-Plough executive vice president, sold 900,000 shares for US$28 million on April 20 last year, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company said last week that Cox followed procedures in making the sale.
"We will investigate and, when appropriate, hold accountable drug companies for engaging in irresponsible and deceptive conduct and any deceitful marketing of prescription drugs," Cuomo said.
The company-sponsored study from October 2002 to April 2006 measured the thickness of the carotid arteries of 720 patients with a predisposition to high cholesterol who took the largest dose of Vytorin over two years.
Law makers are probing whether Schering and Merck acted improperly in their marketing for Vytorin, which cost an average of US$3 a pill compared with three US cents for Zocor.