Merck Drug Company - Vioxx Drug of Arthritis

As a well-known drug company, Merck produced the drug Vioxx to treat arthritis-induced pain. In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug and it soon became one of the most prescribed drugs in history. After Merck and other researchers discovered the increase in cardiovascular events due to Vioxx, the drug remained on the shelves for four more years until Merck voluntarily withdrew it. Since then, the media has exploited Merck’s problems with the drug. Merck has responded with brief rebuttals to all of the medias criticisms through letters. Merck’s “Open Letters” use these three strategies to try to counter the negative press over its handling of Vioxx: they use a strategy to thoroughly explain the steps of their scientific investigation of Vioxx; they publish “Open Letters” in response to negative criticism that express all of their ethical standards; and they use positive history from the past to influence consumers to trust Merck.

Merck thoroughly explains the steps that they conduct in their scientific investigation of Vioxx, to contradict the claims made in regard to the Vigor trial. To prove the drug’s gastrointestinal safety benefits, Merck started the Vigor trial. In Merck’s “Open Letter,” they bold the positive actions they took in their scientific investigation before and after Vioxx hit the market. The “Open Letter” suggests that Merck uses the positive actions of extensively studying, promptly disclosing, conducting further prospective of controlled studies, and acting promptly. Through studying the results of the Vigor trial, the trial is showing that the people taking a high dose of Vioxx are developing more cardiovascular adverse events then those taking a high dose of Naproxen. This information was never displayed to the public although was later discovered in internal Merck emails. In Merck’s “Open Letter,” they claim that their positive actions “are consistent and put the interest of patient’s first, as well as with faithful adherence to the best principles of scientific discipline and transparency.”

Merck publishes their “Open Letters” to express all of their ethical standards, including their clear policies and their formal training programs to argue the statements made on the “Dodge Ball Vioxx.” Found in internal emails was this document said to be used during their formal training process. The document explains