Merck Didn't Study Vioxx Effect on Heart

By KRISTEN HAYS, AP Business WriterWed Jul 20, 3:30 PM ET

Merck & Co. didn't do any significant studies on whether Vioxx could cause heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular problems before the popular painkiller went on the market in 1999, the company's top epidemiologist testified Wednesday.

Nancy Santanello, head of Merck's epidemiology department and the company's corporate face at the nation's first Vioxx-related lawsuit to go to trial, said nothing in Merck's database before the drug went on the market in 1999 indicated it could cause heart attacks.

"At that time we didn't think there was any risk," she said in her third day of questioning from plaintiff's lawyer Mark Lanier. She had yet to be questioned by the company's lawyers.