Study Finds Arcoxia Cardiovascular Risks Similar to Older Painkiller

LONDON - Patients taking Merck & Co. Inc.'s investigational selective Cox-2 inhibitor Arcoxia had a similar risk of heart attack as those taking the world's most widely prescribed NSAID, according to data from the largest and longest arthritis study ever conducted.

Critics, however, have publicly stated that the study's design was flawed and the data do not necessarily demonstrate that Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is safe and should be approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

Results from the MEDAL (Multinational Etoricoxib and Diclofenac Arthritis Long-Term) Program were published Nov. 13 in the online version of The Lancet, the …