By contrast, more than 70 percent of those using ibuprofen had ulcers, according to Aros analyst Maris. Some questions still remain. There's also the question of whether Merck's MK-966 and Searle's celecoxib are more effective than existing drugs as well as being safer. Merck is expected to present clinical data at the American College of Rheumatology in early November about how well its drug did against osteoarthritis in the knee and hip. Searle also will be making a presentation.
Stakes are high for both companies.
Merck has several major drugs that will lose their patent protections after the year 2000 and needs a blockbuster drug to help take up the slack. For Searle, it would be only the second major drug in a decade, Maris said. Not surprisingly, a patent battle is already shaping up. As a result, a judge will determine whether the two products infringe on each other. The patent interference case is likely to stretch on until after both drugs reach the market.