NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Dingell, Stupak Question Drug Makers on Safety of Vytorin and Conflicting Study Data

Recent Study Links Vytorin to Increased Cancer Risk

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, today sent a letter to the CEOs of Schering-Plough Corporation and Merck & Co, Inc., requesting information about the safety and effectiveness of Vytorin, a prescription drug marketed by a joint venture of Merck and Schering-Plough.

In a letter, Dingell and Stupak raise concerns about the results of the recent Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study, which found Vytorin to be associated with significantly higher rates of cancer and cancer deaths than the placebo group. The lawmakers also requested clarification on conflicting and confusing study data.

"We are concerned that a study has found a significant link between Vytorin and cancer,” said Dingell. “Now it appears that Merck/Schering-Plough and its consultant are presenting two different data sets from this study to the public. Doctors and consumers should have better information on which to base their health care decisions."

"Vytorin's effectiveness has been in doubt, and now its safety is questionable,” said Stupak. “In addition, this may be another example of Merck and Schering-Plough playing with the release of a study's data. Patients and their doctors deserve full disclosure of the study data instead of competing press releases minimizing a potentially serious safety risk of Vytorin."

Read the letter (pdf) »