Merck did not trust its own Vioxx data; relied on gut feeling

It would be nice if Merck scientists would pay more attention to data than trust their guts. After all, human lives are at stake. If you believe Alise Reicin, vice president of clinical research at Merck Research Laboratories, then you get the impression that Merck research folks are so convinced about their gut feelings that even when data proves them wrong, they don't want to believe it.

"We really thought, based on the totality of the data, that naproxen was cardioprotective," she said today as Merck attorneys presented their defense after a long weekend in the Humeston lawsuit trial. "In addition, we knew there were benefits of Vioxx." She was referring to a study that found that Vioxx was killing more people than Aleve. While any reasonable person would have concluded that Vioxx was more dangerous than Aleve, Merck scientists twisted the result to conclude that Aleve was much better at protecting the heart.

Hope other drug scientists in America don't think like that and trust numbers more than their guts.

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