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To: aknahow who wrote (749)	9/8/1998 7:02:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

Merck Experimental Drug Helps Arthritis Patients Move Better Bloomberg News September 6, 1998, 1:35 p.m. ET Merck Experimental Drug Helps Arthritis Patients Move Better Geneva, Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Merck & Co., the world's biggest drugmaker, said its experimental painkiller Vioxx can help arthritis patients more comfortably walk several blocks, climb stairs and carry groceries. Merck presented findings of a study of the drug at the 11th European League Against Rheumatism conference in Geneva. Rival drugmaker Monsanto Co. could be the first to start sales of this new kind of painkiller with the expected 1999 introduction of its drug, Celebra. The new painkillers are expected to become the next blockbusters, with combined sales of $1.5 billion by 2000. People with arthritis now depend on painkillers that can cause stomach bleeding, which kills 7,600 and sends 76,000 people to the hospital each year. The new drugs may eliminate the side effect. ''Arthritis is among the most painful and disabling chronic conditions facing society today,'' said Sheldon Kong, a Merck health economist, in a statement. Merck also presented studies that indicate Vioxx more selectively interferes with enzymes than do currently available painkillers, such as American Home Products Corp.'s Advil. The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based company needs a blockbuster drug to make up for loss of patents on some of its top sellers. By 2001, Merck could face generic competition for four drugs that had more than $5.3 billion in 1997 sales. Concern about losing the patents has hurt its share price, which has risen 28 percent in the past year, lagging 44 percent return of the Standard & Poor's Drugs Index. Merck fell 1 3/8 to 122 1/8 Friday. Merck expects to file later this year for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Vioxx. The FDA already has received Monsanto's application and said it will give Celebra a faster- than-usual review. Six-Week Study In Geneva, Merck presented the results of a six-week study in which people took Vioxx or a placebo and were questioned about their health and daily activities. Researchers found people taking Vioxx did better in physical activities. The study began with 672 participants, and 565 completed it. A second presentation at Geneva showed people treated with Vioxx over six months reported no serious gastrointestinal problems, such as ulcers or stomach bleeding. Another presentation illustrated how Vioxx can work without irritating the stomach. Vioxx blocks an enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2, or Cox-2, that's linked to pain and swelling, while sparing a related enzyme, cyclooxygenase-1, or Cox-1. This enzyme may be critical to protecting the lining of the stomach. In a study of 32 healthy volunteers given Vioxx, researchers found significant evidence of Cox-2 inhibition and no evidence of Cox-1 inhibition, ''even at doses 10 times higher than those that have been shown in studies to reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis,'' said Elliot Ehrich, Merck's director of clinical research, in a statement. --Kerry Dooley in the Princeton newsroom (609) 279-4016/jcn