Merck Vioxx News and Press Releases

Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Closely Following News Coverage of Vioxx Withdrawal

Sixty percent of Vioxx users concerned that their or a family member's health might be negatively affected by taking the drug

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half (48%) of U.S. adults and more than three quarters (78%) of Vioxx users (1) report closely following the news coverage about the voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx from the market. Sixteen percent of U.S. adults report that they or someone in their household have taken Vioxx on a regular basis and nearly half (48%) of these users were taking the medication at the time of withdrawal.

These are some of the results of a Harris Interactive(R) poll of 2,065 U.S. adults conducted online between December 2 and 6, 2004 for the Wall Street Journal Online's Health Industry Edition.

Reactions to the withdrawal by adults living in households where someone was taking Vioxx at the time of the recall varied, but a majority did respond in some way when they learned the news. The most common action taken by Vioxx users was to consult with a doctor about switching to a new medication (50%). Nearly half (48%) reported switching to another prescription pain medication, 24 percent switched to an over-the-counter pain medication, and 21 percent stopped taking pain medication entirely. Notably, none of the users surveyed refilled a prescription for Vioxx via the Internet or some other means.

While the news coverage of this withdrawal has been quite extensive, it doesn't appear to have done much to minimize concern, as a majority (60%) of Vioxx users are concerned that their health or the health of their family members might be negatively affected by taking the medication.

In the wake of the criticisms that have leveled against Merck & Co., the manufacturer of Vioxx, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Americans are divided or uncertain as to whether or not they feel that these institutions acted responsibly with regard to the drug's withdrawal. By 43 to 22 percent, adults believe the FDA acted responsibly, however 35 percent are not sure. Merck was not viewed quite as favorably with virtually no difference in the percentage of adults saying it acted responsibly vs. those saying it did not act responsibly (32% vs. 31%), and another 37 percent saying they are not sure.

TABLE 1 NEWS COVERAGE ON VIOXX WITHDRAWAL "How closely have you followed the news coverage about the withdrawal of Vioxx, a popular pain medication, from the market?" Base: All Adults

All Adults Vioxx Users* % % Very/Somewhat Closely (NET) 48 78 Very closely 10 31 Somewhat closely 38 47 Not Very/Not at All Closely (NET) 52 22 Not very closely 36 17 Not at all closely 17 5

* Adults who have taken or those who have someone in their household who has taken Vioxx on a regular basis.

(C)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without the express written permission of Harris Interactive.

TABLE 2 HOUSEHOLD EXPERIENCE TAKING VIOXX "Prior to the withdrawal of Vioxx, were you or was anyone else in your household taking this medication on a regular basis?" Base: All Adults

All Adults 18-24 25-29 % % % Someone in household used Vioxx(NET) 16 5 12 Yes, I took Vioxx 10 1 4 Yes, someone else took Vioxx 8 5 8 No one took Vioxx 81 80 84 Not sure 3 15 4

30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ % % % % Someone in household used Vioxx(NET) 12 16 23 23 Yes, I took Vioxx 7 10 16 17 Yes, someone else took Vioxx 6 8 10 9 No one took Vioxx 87 83 75 77 Not sure 1 2 2 1

NOTE: May equal more than 100 percent because of multiple Vioxx users in household.

(C)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without the express written permission of Harris Interactive.

TABLE 3 USE OF VIOXX AT TIME OF WITHDRAWAL "Prior to the withdrawal of Vioxx, were you or was anyone else in your household taking this medication on a regular basis?" Base: Someone in Household Used Vioxx

Vioxx Users* Stopped taking Vioxx prior to withdrawal % 52 Was taking Vioxx at time of withdrawal % 48

* Adults who have taken or those who have someone in their household who has taken Vioxx on a regular basis.

(C)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without the express written permission of Harris Interactive.

TABLE 4 RESPONSES TO VIOXX WITHDRAWAL BY USERS "What, if anything, did (you/your household member) do when Vioxx was withdrawn from the market?" Base: Someone in Household Used Vioxx at the Time of the Withdrawal

Vioxx Users+ % Spoke to a doctor about switching to a new medication 50 Switched to another prescription pain medication 48 Switched to an over-the-counter pain medication 24 Stopped taking pain medications entirely 21 Continued to take Vioxx until the prescription ran out 9 Spoke to an attorney about filing a suite against the company that made Vioxx * Refilled a prescription for Vioxx via the Internet or some other means 0 None of these things 13

Note: Multiple-response question

+ Adults who have taken or those who have someone in their household who has taken Vioxx on a regular basis.

* = Less than 0.5%.

(C)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without the express written permission of Harris Interactive.

TABLE 5 CONCERNS ABOUT IMPACT ON HEALTH OF VIOXX USERS "Overall, how concerned are you that (your/your household member's) health might be negatively affected by taking Vioxx?" Base: Someone in Household Used Vioxx

Vioxx Users* % Very/Somewhat Concerned (NET) 60 Very concerned 19 Somewhat concerned 42 Not Very/Not at All Concerned (NET) 40 Not very concerned 30 Not at all concerned 10

* Adults who have taken or those who have someone in their household who has taken Vioxx on a regular basis.

(C)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without the express written permission of Harris Interactive.

TABLE 6 PERCEPTIONS OF MERCK AND THE FDA

"Based on what you know or have heard, do you think the following have acted

responsibly when Vioxx was withdrawn from the market, or not?" Base: All Adults

All Adults Vioxx Users* Acted Did Not Acted Did Not Responsibly Not Sure Responsibly Not Sure

Merck & Co. % 32 31 37 37 36 26 The FDA % 43 22 35 51 23 26

* Adults who have taken or those who have someone in their household who has taken Vioxx on a regular basis.

(C)2004, Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without the express written permission of Harris Interactive.

J120204 Q305, Q310, Q315, Q320, Q326

Methodology

This poll was conducted online in the U.S. between December 2 and 6, 2004 among a nationwide cross section of 2,065 adults (aged 18 and over), 341 of whom have used or have someone in household who has used Vioxx on a regular basis. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for the overall sample. The sampling error for the Vioxx users results is plus or minus 8 percentage points. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors. This online sample was not a probability sample.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

About the Survey

The Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll is an exclusive poll that is published in the award-winning Health Industry Edition of The Wall Street Journal Online at http://www.wsj.com/health.

About The Wall Street Journal Online

The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com, published by Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; http://www.dowjones.com/), offers authoritative analysis, breaking news and commentary from top industry journalists. Launched in 1996, the Online Journal is the largest paid subscription news site on the Web, with more than 689,000 subscribers world-wide. The Online Journal provides in-depth business news and financial information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with insight and analysis, including breaking business and technology news and analysis from around the world. It draws on the Dow Jones network of more than 1,500 reporters and editors -- the largest staff of business and financial journalists in the world. For the second consecutive year in 2003, the Online Journal received a WebAward for the "Best Newspaper Web Site" and was also cited by Yahoo! Internet Life magazine as the "Best Business News" site (2002 & 2001).

About Dow Jones & Company

In addition to The Wall Street Journal and its international and online editions, Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; dowjones.com) also publishes Barron's and the Far Eastern Economic Review, Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Jones Indexes and the Ottaway group of community newspapers. Dow Jones is co-owner with Reuters Group of Factiva, with Hearst of SmartMoney and with NBC of the CNBC television operations in Asia and Europe. Dow Jones also provides news content to CNBC and radio stations in the U.S.

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/), the 15th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (http://www.hieurope.com/), Paris-based Novatris (http://www.novatris.com/), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide (http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com/), a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com/.

(1) Vioxx users defined as U.S. adults who have used or those who have someone in their household who has used Vioxx on a regular basis.

Press Contacts: Nicole C. Pyhel The Wall Street Journal Online 609-520-4057

Nancy Wong Harris Interactive 585-214-7316

Kelly Gullo Harris Interactive 585-214-7172
Harris Interactive Inc.

CONTACT: Nicole C. Pyhel of The Wall Street Journal Online,
+1-609-520-4057; or Nancy Wong, +1-585-214-7316, or Kelly Gullo,
+1-585-214-7172, both of Harris Interactive

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/
http://www.wsj.com/health
http://www.dowjones.com/
http://www.hieurope.com/
http://www.novatris.com/
http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com/
http://www.harrispollonline.com/

Other Resources
Drug Stores
Medical Classifieds
Legal Search Engine
Top Mesothelioma Sites
Phone Cards

Vioxx-Search-Engine.com
7141 Oak Pointe Curve
Minneapolis, MN 55438 USA

©Copyright
Nielsen Technical Services
All Rights Reserved Worldwide