| Trial and
error: At the
core of Brian Deer's investigation was a
UK clinical trial of Vioxx, known by the
acronym "Victor". Among its
volunteers was retired laboratory
technician Kenneth Wood,
of Madeley, Shropshire, who died of a
heart attack after 17 months of
participation. A confidential Merck document, obtained during
Deer's inquiries, showed that a Royal
Shrewsbury hospital consultant said that Vioxx
was "probably" responsible for
Wood's death. Another document - the Victor
informed consent sheet - revealed that
Wood had never been told of possibly fatal
side-effects long reported to be
associated with the drug. Wood's widow,
Margaret, only learnt the facts from Deer |
|
|
| Powerful
friends: The UK's
top champion for Vioxx was Professor Michael
Langman, former dean of
Birmingham University's medical school,
and not only a member of the drugs
watchdog, the Committee on Safety of
Medicines, but also co-principal
investigator of the controversial
Victor trial. The trial's other
principal investigator was Professor David Kerr, of Oxford
University, a major player in Labour
party health circles. Both declined to be
interviewed by Brian Deer, but supplied
statements, at the links above. Both
denied error, and said that the trial,
which aimed to enroll 7,000, had been run
to the "highest ethical
and scientific
standards" |
| Ethics
concerns:
In addition to never warning Victor
volunteers of possible heart risks, the
trial's organisers had to be brought to
heel by the UK's West Midlands medical
ethics committee over failing to state
risks of potentially fatal stomach
ulcers caused by painkillers,
including Vioxx |
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