When Merck and Schering-Plough delayed results of a clinical trial aimed at showing the benefits of Vytorin, a top cholesterol drug, they said more time was needed to ensure the validityof the data.
When the response to such a wide mailing is this limited, there is always a bit of concern for the validityof the data as those who choose to participate tend to be among the most virulent in their opinions (whether for or against) and may not represent a particularly good cross section of the physician community as a whole.