World Economic

Schering-Plough and Merck’s cholesterol drug Vytorin doesn’t lower the risk of major heart valve problems and need for related surgical procedures, according to a large-scale study.

The drug was no better than placebo at lowering the risk of major cardiovascular events, compared with placebo, in patients suffering from a condition that blocks blood flow to part of the heart. The study, called SEAS, involved 1,873 patients spread throughout several countries with aortic stenosis, a condition in which blood flow to the heart is blocked.

Vytorin also failed to meet a secondary goal of improving aortic valve disease events, which included valve replacement surgery, hospitalization because of heart failure, and death related to heart.

The drug did meet the other secondary goal of reducing atherosclerotic disease, in which plaque builds up and blocks an artery fast cash advance. Events included in the study assessment were nonfatal heart attacks, the need for bypass surgery, and strokes.

Meanwhile, there were more cancer deaths in patients taking Vytorin, though the study said that data is based on a small number of people and could have occurred by chance.

Shares of Kenilworth, N.J.-based Schering-Plough (SGP, Fortune 500) fell $2.75, or 13.2%, to $18.62 in afternoon trading, while shares of Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck (MRK, Fortune 500) fell $1.41, or 3.7%, to $36.30. 

Source