This Week's BacksideOf TheBell CurveWinner!

Merck CEO Raymond Gilmartin





"Ask your Doctor about
our novel product called Vioxx!
We don't care if you die. Our goal
is lowering our cost structure,"
Gilmartin didn't say.

"Merck's research and development efforts are, and will continue to be, the foundation of this company. Despite recent setbacks, we are pursuing the strategy that is right for Merck and in the best interests of our shareholders,"
Mr. Gilmartin said.

"Today, what payers demand, physicians expect and patients need are the novel products that Merck has and will continue to provide," Mr. Gilmartin added. "Continuing to focus on developing and launching novel medicines and vaccines backed by proven outcomes at competitive prices, aggressively pursuing external alliances, lowering our cost structure and maximizing our in-line franchises will allow us to grow and succeed over the long term." LINK


Arthritis superdrug yanked over heart concerns

By Kay Lazar
Friday, October 1, 2004Four years after studies first suggested heart problems from its arthritis drug Vioxx, Merck & Co. yesterday yanked its blockbuster medication from the market.
Merck said new data from a 2,600-patient study of Vioxx and its effect on colon polyps showed the drug doubled the risk of heart attacks among long-term users.
``We are taking this action because we believe it best serves the interests of patients,'' Merck CEO Raymond Gilmartin said in a statement.
But researchers complain Merck dragged its heels pulling the plug on a drug, launched in 1999, that is taken by tens of millions of people worldwide. The company raked in $2.5 billion in Vioxx sales last year. LINK

But wait! There's more!

MERCK PHARMACEUTICALS INFLATED STATEMENTS BY $$$ BILLIONS MERCK CEO IS TOP BUSH ADVISOR: THE LATEST GOP KENNY BOY BUSH UP TO HIS NECK IN MERCK MUCK DUBYA'S ENRON ACID REFLUX

In a thermonuclear revelation on the eve of George W. Bush's "corporate responsibility" speech, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and other sources are reporting yet another new and huge corporate rip-off scandal linked to Bush, this one involving the Merck pharmaceutical corporation, and its CEO Raymond Gilmartin.

According to breaking coverage, Merck booked $12.4 billion in revenues in the past three years, which it never received.

That's twelve BILLION four hundred MILLION dollars in phony receipts, over three years.

On average, over four BILLION dollars per year.

More to the point: Merck CEO Raymond Gilmartin, just like Enron's Kenneth "Kenny Boy" Lay, is a major Republican contributor with extremely close ties to George W. Bush and his administration. During the Bush transition, when energy policy was being dictated by Enron and the energy corporations, Bush appointed Merck's Gilmartin to his top advisory committee for formulating health policy, including pharmaceutical and Medicare policy, for the new administration.

Thereafter, Gilmartin triggered tens of millions of dollars to support front groups to back a phony Republican prescription drug bill for seniors and to counter the Democrats' substantive plan. The money has gone to pay for, among other things, TV ad campaigns against Democrats. LINK

Hell called, Mr. Gilmartin...

Your room is ready.