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Q: What instructions were given to Merck's salespeople for discussing Vioxx with doctors?
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What instructions were given to Merck's salespeople for discussing Vioxx with doctors?
According to a May 6, 2005 report in the Los Angeles Times, a Merck company bulletin from 2001 ordered the sales force to steer clear of discussing a scientific meeting convened by the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate Vioxx safety. "DO NOT INITIATE DISCUSSIONS," it said in a prominent warning. In other internal missives, concerns about heart risks were termed "obstacles." A sales campaign to overcome the safety concerns was called "Project Offense." Another was dubbed "Project XXceleration"--a play on the spelling of the drug.
