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Zetia (ezetimibie) and the combination-drug Vytorin (Zetia + Zocor), developed and marketed jointly by Merck and Schering-Plough, are prescription drugs used to lower cholesterol levels. These drugs, commonly prescribed to patients who are unable to control their cholesterol, are designed to treat both sources of cholesterol in the body - absorption in the intestine of both biliary and dietary cholesterol, and production in the liver and peripheral tissues. But evidence is now surfacing that may prove otherwise, with reports that Merck and Schering-Plough used deceptive marketing and misrepresentation of study data to increase sales and suppress information on side effects including the elevated risk of liver damage or disease.
| Possible injuries from Vytorin / Zetia include: |
| | Myalgia |
| | Rhabdomyolysis |
| | Hepatitis |
| | Pancreatitis |
| | Thrombocytopenia |
| | Liver injury & Liver damage |
| | Death |
| | Prescription Reimbursement |
On January 14, 2008, the results of a long-awaited study on the effectiveness of Vytorin to reduce artery-clogging plaque in patients with high cholesterol were released. The ENHANCE study, which was conducted in 2006 and funded by Merck and Schering-Plough, focused on a group of 720 patients with a rare condition predisposing them to high cholesterol. The patients were given either Vytorin or a high dose of simvastatin, the generic form of Zocor. While Vytorin was found to have significantly reduced cholesterol in these patients, it didn’t provided any significant benefit versus the statin drug Zocor in slowing down clogging of the arteries. Overall, the study failed to meet its primary goal, which was to show whether Vytorin was more effective than Zocor alone in preventing development of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery. Such plaque buildup is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, and many doctors had been prescribing Vytorin on the theory that the drug would reduce this risk in people with high cholesterol. The ENHANCE study was no doubt a serious blow to this theory.
Other studies released recently have also found that the prolonged use of Zetia in combination with a statin like Lipitor, Zocor, or Crestor can cause serious liver damage and/or disease. In addition, studies have proven that Zetia is mostly ineffective at treating arterial plaque buildup, compared to taking a statin like Zocor alone to treat that build up. Studies regarding the effectiveness and side effects of Zetia took place in mid 2006. However, the information collected from these studies was only just released in January of 2008. During this time it is believed that the makers of Zetia knew of the drugs inefficiencies at treating arterial plaque buildup, and may have also been aware of the potential risk to the liver due to the fact that patients with elevated risk of liver disease were selectively removed from the studies.
In The News:
Data About Zetia Risks Was Not Fully Revealed - New York Times
Scherine, Merck defend cholesterol drugs in ads - Reuters
Although the manufacturers knew this information, they continued to mislead consumers into believing that the more expensive Zetia was more efficient than Zocor, resulting in higher profits for the drug companies. Combined Vytorin and Zetia sales were about $3.7 billion for the nine months leading up to Sept. 30, 2007, up 33% from the year-earlier period. The disappointing results of the ENHANCE and Zetia studies put those sales at risk, as many doctors may opt to prescribe the generic version of the Zocor alone. Generic versions of Zocor cost roughly $1 per pill, compared with about $3 per Vytorin tablet.
The deceptive misrepresentation of Zetia and Vytorin regarding its effectiveness compared to using a statin alone has caused class action suits to be filed against the drug's manufacturers. By withholding information regarding the drug's effectiveness, the manufacturer caused millions of Americans to purchase the more expensive Zetia and Vytorin over other less expensive cholesterol medicines.
Moreover, information about possible liver damage due to taking Zetia with a statin was known before the drug's release in 2002. It is only until recently that studies have been released showing that the prolonged use of Zetia combined with a statin like Lipitor, Zocor, or Crestor may cause severe liver damage and/or disease.
If you have taken Zetia or Vytorin and were unaware of its inefficiencies, please Contact Us.
If you took Zetia or Vytorin and developed liver damage or disease, other serious side effects, or if a relative died due to these complications while on Zetia Contact Us today.
Time constraints may affect your case! Contact Us today! We would like to help!
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