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<H1>Merck CEO Resigns as Drug Probe Continues</H1>
<H2>House Panel Critical Of Vioxx Sales Tactics</H2>
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<DIV id=byline><FONT size=2>By Marc Kaufman</FONT></DIV><FONT size=2>Washington
Post Staff Writer<BR>Friday, May 6, 2005; Page A01 </FONT>
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<P><NITF>Merck & Co.'s longtime leader Raymond V. Gilmartin abruptly
resigned yesterday on the same day congressional investigators released a slew
of documents detailing how <FONT color=#ff0000>the company continued to
aggressively promote its arthritis drug Vioxx after it knew of potentially
serious safety concerns.</NITF></FONT></P>
<P><NITF>The documents made public by the House Committee on Government Reform
showed that <FONT color=#ff0000>Merck directed its 3,000-person Vioxx sales
force to avoid discussions with doctors about the cardiovascular risks
identified in a major clinical trial of the drug in 2000.</FONT> <FONT
color=#0000ff>Sales</FONT> <FONT color=#0000ff>representatives were told instead
to rely on a "Cardiovascular Card" that said Vioxx was protecting the heart
rather than potentially harming
it</FONT>....</NITF></P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>