FDA Approval of Merck's Painkiller Sets Up Marketing War.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News,  May, 1999  by Silverman, Edward R.

Tags: FDA, marketing, Merck & Co. Inc.

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

May 22 -- After months of anticipation, the pain wars have begun.

Federal regulators yesterday approved Merck & Co.'s new Vioxx painkiller, setting the stage for a massive battle with Monsanto Co. and Pfizer Inc., which are jointly marketing the rival -- and very popular -- Celebrex medication launched earlier this year.

These superaspirins, also known as Cox-2 drugs, have been eagerly anticipated because they're designed to provide relief from pain without causing the ulcers and bleeding associated with NSAIDs, or non-steroidal ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.