I just noticed that Merck has taken down it’s stand-alone Propecia website:
google.com/webhp?hl=en&tab= … ecia&hl=en
For as long as I can recall, it would come up No. 1 in Google searches, because Merck bought the keyword.
Now only the label is listed as a PDF. Ditto if you go on Merck.com – no Propecia section, just the label.
What does it mean? What DOES it mean?
It would be great if they pulled the drug off the market but I don’t think they will do that at this stage.
That last time it was down was around the time of the 2012 FDA-mandated label change.
Maybe more FDA action on the way?
More than 24 hours later, Merck’s Propecia website is still nowhere to be found.
Curious.
Very curious.
11 hours later, nothing there.
Oh, where ARE you, official Propecia site?
The Propecia patent expired so generic drug manufacturers are now selling the drug. Merck probably doesn’t care about marketing the drug anymore and doesn’t want to expose itself to additional liability. I wouldn’t be surprise if it is gone for good.
Was just thinking the same thing. It’s not worth the $300m or whatever they’re not making off it annually at this point.
In fact, they probably hope that by cutting back on marketing – namely, taking down the website – that fewer people will take Propecia, thus cutting down on the number of PFS cases and, in turn, the number of new lawsuits filed.
Sick, yes, but that’s Mr. Kenneth C. Frazier for you: all balls and no heart.
You know, that would be a good nickname for him–All Balls.
“And now, batting for the Phillies, All Balls Frazier.”
“And the winner for Best Supporting Actor is… All Balls Frazier!”
“Hey, All Balls! Your shoe is untied.”
Merck’s Propecia website is still nowhere to be found.
I’m just wondering: If Propecia is, as Merck claims, “safe and effective,” why not market it as aggressively as possible – which in this day and age is synonymous with having an online presence?
What’s wrong with your very own product, Mr. Kenneth C. Frazier, that you can’t market it on the Internet?
Moreover, what do your shareholders think about you consciously trying NOT to sell the product – thus putting a crimp in profits?
Huh?
Answer us, Mr. Frazier.
We can handle the truth.
But can you?
^ love it!!!
Maybe Merck is going to quietly drop Propecia ?
Propecia is going to be a BIG PROBLEM for them in the long run so this could be damage limitation on their part.
I for one an hoping – praying – Merck goes bankrupt.
And Kenneth C. Frazier is forced to wander the earth in infamy like John Edwards.
Just noticed that, while Propecia.com is gone as a stand-alone website for the infamous medication, that URL now directs to this catch-all page:
Does it matter? Hair loss docs and clinics are still full court press on selling the lie.
It only matters in that it’s a subtle admission guilt on behalf of Merck.
Obviously they WANT consumers to buy generic versions of Propecia, because they know that a certain percent of everyone who takes the drug will develop PFS.
However, anyone who takes the generic version can NOT sue Merck.
I don’t think its fair to say its an “admission” of anything but their decision to take down the website is certainly questionable.
Trust me, a $150 BILLION company that exist only to make even more money does NOT take down a website dedicated to one of it products.
All Merck wants to do is – if possible – quietly get rid of the albatross known as Propecia and sweep the devastation the drug has done to thousands of men around the globe under the rug.
That is ALL they care about.
But they are nervous because they know, like Bill Cosby, it’s only a matter of time before the jig is up.
It really is obvious they took down their website now that Propecia has become a net financial liability post-patent expiration. This is how pharmaceutical marketing and legal departments operate. They are a $150b company and Propecia is not the only drug or problem they care about. In due time, it will come out that they knew about the risks of their drug and chose not to inform the public because they didn’t think it would be financially sensible. But the fact they took down the website is really not an admission of guilt - we may never get one from the company - and it isn’t really helpful to exaggerate even if you are generally right.
If you mean that Merck came out with a public statement saying that they took down Propecia.com because they know the drug is harmful, no. That will never happen.
But by process of elimination – i.e., there IS no other explanation – we can take it as a tacit admission that they fucked up and realize it and are not trying to quietly sweep all the dead bodies under the rug.
But that sweeping it all under the rug will never happen.
At least not while I’m alive.
2015 is almost over yet the main Propecia.com website is still down.
It seems Merck want to quietly drop Propecia.