Merck cardiovascular news
A judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey approved a settlement of a 2008 suit alleging the board of Merck's Schering-Plough subsidiary deliberately concealed information about the Phase III ENHANCE trial of Vytorin ezetimibe/simvastatin to treat heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). The suit was filed by Plymouth County Contributory Retirement System. Under the settlement, Merck must provide an annual report to the research committee of its board explaining any clinical trials with results that haven't been reported within a year of completion, including the reasons for the delay and any corrective action taken. Merck will retain this governance for at least three years, unless a majority of independent directors determine the policy is no longer in Merck's best interest. The pharma is only responsible to report delays for Merck-sponsored clinical trials of marketed products in the U.S. for which it is required to register results with FDA. Merck will also have to pay $5.1 million in attorneys' fees. Merck said it believes this is an appropriate resolution. ...