FDA Allows Publication of Vioxx Data

Dr. David Graham of the FDA's Office of Drug Safety compiled data on heart attacks associated with Vioxx, but was prevented from releasing the information. The osteroarthritis pain medication was linked to as many as 139,000 heart attacks where 30 to 40 percent died. Consequently, the FDA has been criticized for mismanaging the situation.

In September, manufacturer Merck pulled the drug from the marketplace, citing their own safety concerns. And now, according to Tom Devine, Legal Director of the Government Accountability Project, the FDA has decided to "stop suppressing controversial research on Vioxx." The information will be submitted to The Lancet for publication.

With the health of the public in the lurch, it seems the FDA cannot always be relied upon to provide timely notifications.