ADVANTAGE: Science First, Marketing Second

TO THE EDITOR:

Merck & Co. would like to correct numerous inaccuracies in the article by Hill and colleagues (1), who are paid consultants to plaintiffs' lawyers in the Vioxx (rofecoxib) litigation against Merck, and respond to this biased attack on Merck's scientific integrity.

The scientific purpose of the ADVANTAGE (Assessment of Differences between Vioxx and Naproxen To Ascertain Gastrointestinal Tolerability and Effectiveness) trial was to answer unaddressed questions about Vioxx. The study—a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial—was designed, analyzed, and published by the Clinical Development unit of Merck's U.S. Human Health (USHH) organization, in conjunction with investigators. The …