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Merck, Schering-Plough: Confessions of a Vytorin Patient

You made a good point, bmc.
There are some fundamental assumptions that need to be questioned.
Until then, moving from Vytorin to Zocor makes no sense at all.

Merck and SGP's Vytorin/Zetia: Are Doctors Writing Fewer Scripts?

Iknowjack, you don't seem to understand what those who have used (not just read some useless studies) Vytorin are telling you. It simply works better than statins while lowering HDL/LDL ratio very successfully.

Now you know where to stick all these charlatanic studies you have been reading !!!

Merck and SGP's Vytorin/Zetia: Are Doctors Writing Fewer Scripts?

If CNBC’s Pharmaceutical Reporter focused less on misguided study or census findings and more on patient/doctor insights he would do himself and his audience a great service.

He must be in that ignorant minority who believe that those who are on Vytorin will switch out to other medications because of a botched –up panel discussion !! All the doctors I spoke with are amazed at the media coverage of an isolated and ill-conceived study whose findings, delivered as a monologue, defied all scientific conventions of an interactive panel discussion. As a patient who has tried everything over the last 25 years, I know that Zetia delivers amazing LDL lowering effects and that for patients who need a statin along with Zetia (and there are plenty apparently), nothing beats Vytorin in convenience and economics.
It is about time we start reporting facts and not survey resullts of projected intentions bordering on fiction.

Merck, Schering-Plough: Confessions of a Vytorin Patient

Finally Dr. Josh has admitted that he does NOT know whether Zetia is good or bad, and won't until 2012.
Conversely, I do know that the statins I have tried did not lower my cholesterol and when taken in higher doses affected my liver -- which led my doctor to advise me to stop using them. (i.e. it was bad for me.)

In view of my experimentation over so many years, I have found that Vytorin is the drug that works for me and have no intention of switching unless and until proven that it is as bad for me as the statins you seem to be favoring. As to your comment on costs, again check your numbers once and for all : if you must buy Zetia with another statin ( any) , Vytorin contains both and is a cheaper alternative.

It was nice getting your views on the topic, but I would still like to see you admititng that Vytorin, for a certain patient population, is yet another alternative to treating high-cholesterol efficiently and economically.

Merck, Schering-Plough: Confessions of a Vytorin Patient

Dr. Josh

You have assumed that I haven't tried other simvastatins before and that I haven't tried exercise, dietary changes and other supplements to lower my lipid panel indicators. I am sorry to disappoint your brilliant analysis , but wrong on all counts. 26 years of a patient's own experience and records is behind my decision to stick with Vytorin.

The only thing that worked for me so far is Vytorin and this is because of Zetia and not Zocor. ( The latter was no better than Lipitor or Mevacor or Pravachol, all of which I've tried.). Something that you and some other MD's insist to overlook.

Why are you suggesting that Zetia's presumed lack of comparative vasoreactivity is more dangerous than a very high LDL when it comes to morbidity ? Do you have any scientifically acceptable proof that this is the case ?

At least in my scientific world, when we don't know what we don't know we keep our opinions to ourselves....

Merck, Schering-Plough: Confessions of a Vytorin Patient

Dr. Bob -- sorry you missed completely my point.
The differentiator in Vytorin is Zetia -- everyone, including the ACC panel which managed to masquarade this botched-up analysis as "scientific" agrees : because of Zetia, LDL is lower for everyone tested without causing the unwanted liver complications of higher-dose statins.

Now, the economics... I've just told you facts in hand that generic Zocor+Zetia is MORE expensive than its equivalent Vytorin. One must ask : if premium gas is cheaper than regular, which do you put in your car ????

Experts Weigh in on ENHANCE Published Results

A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

After taking Mevacor and Tricor for 20+ years without success in lowering my Cholesterol I was switched to Vytorin which produced the best results ever, including amazingly low LDL.

When my new health insurance denied Vytorin and recommended Zocor instead I pointed out to them the need to combine Zetia with Zocor to produce the same effect.They agreed.

Now the Economics : 90 days of supply between the two alternatives compares as follows: VYTORIN ( $245) vs ZOCOR + ZETIA ( $393+$240). When the insurance discovered that nothing was as cost-effective as Vytorin for my treatment needs, they have re-instated coverage in a hurry and presented an apology.

In conclusion, for those patients who are in my situation and need the two components, nothing beats Vytorin in convenience and economics.

The death of Vytorin and the hit on SGP has been grossly exaggerated.Does anyone believe that those who are on it already will switch out to others ?

If we assume a no growth scenario and a preservation of the existing patient population, SGP could jump at least 50% from its currently depressed valuation. If they hire smarter people to run the company and their marketing effort, the upside is even larger. I see $24 by YE as a reasonable target.