Merck's Vioxx Seen as Effective as Common Arthritis Drug
Bloomberg News
November 10, 1998, 3:31 p.m. ET
Merck's Vioxx Seen as Effective as Common Arthritis Drug
San Diego, Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Merck & Co.'s Vioxx, an
experimental drug for pain and inflammation, was as effective as
a common arthritis medication and has few side effects, according
to studies presented today.
Merck, the world's largest drugmaker, is trying to catch up
with much smaller rival Monsanto Co. in a battle for potential
customers for these kinds of experimental arthritis medicines,
expected to become the next blockbuster drugs.
A 784-patient study showed that Merck's drug works as well
as diclofenac, a common arthritis medicine. A study of 672
patients indicates people taking Vioxx were better able to carry
out their physical activities.
Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, rose 2 3/16
to 147 3/4 in late trading. It earlier touched a record 148 5/8.
Simultaneously, Monsanto released research findings on its
drug, Celebrex, which could be on the market by early 1999.
Merck isn't expected to start sales of its drug, Vioxx, until
later next year. Merck's drug, though, is taken just once a day,
while Monsanto's is taken twice. That advantage could help Merck
catch up.
Vioxx and Celebrex are the first of a new class of drugs,
the Cox-2 inhibitors. These drugs target the compounds in the
body linked to pain and swelling more specifically than do
existing painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
The Cox-2 drugs interfere with the production of the enzyme,
cyclooxygensase-2, linked to pain and swelling. Advil and
ibuprofen, sold as Motrin, interfere with this enzyme and a
related one, cyclooxygenase-1, which appears to help protect the
stomach from its own acids. As a result, long-term use of
existing painkillers causes stomach bleeding in some patients.
The Cox-2 drugs are expected to top $1 billion each in
annuals sales. Some analysts estimate the drugs could top $5
billion combined in sales.
--Jim Finkle in San Diego and Kerry Dooley in Washington through
news.com |
