http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/opinion/16wed2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Editorial
Cholesterol Drug Bombs NYT

There have long been suspicions, but it was still very disturbing to
learn this week that a heavily promoted cholesterol-lowering drug had
flunked a clinical trial of its effectiveness in reducing fatty
deposits in arteries. The two companies that reap billions from the
drug had been cynically sitting on the results for more than a year.

The drug, Zetia, and a combination pill that contains it, Vytorin,
are made by Merck and Schering-Plough and used by millions of
patients. They generated more than $5 billion in sales last year. The
companies sponsored a clinical trial of the drug's effectiveness in
hopes that positive results would strengthen their marketing efforts.

 The assumption was that Vytorin would reduce the growth of fatty
plaques -- a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes -- more than
Zocor alone. As it turned out, the plaques grew almost twice as fast
in patients taking the Vytorin. ........

..........The companies' grudging release of the data has raised
disturbing questions. A House committee will explore whether they
withheld the results lest they interfere with sales and only released
them under pressure from Congress and news media reports.....

.......The findings also raise doubts about the current belief that
lowering cholesterol is the key to cardiovascular health. The study
showed that Vytorin reduced bad cholesterol significantly more than
Zocor alone. The problem was that it failed to reduce the formation of
plaque......"

Thanks Vince