The New York Times reports that recently released court documents suggest that drugmaker Wyeth was behind more than two dozen ghostwritten articles published in medical journals from 1998 to 2005 that significantly advanced the use of hormone replacement treatments in women. The articles, commission by drug maker Wyeth, touted the benefits of the hormone drugs Premarin and Prempro while downplaying potential risks. Later studies determined that some hormone therapies increased the risk of a variety of health problems among menopausal women. Article by Natasha Singer, The New York Times 08/04/2009

There has been a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed Merck and Schering-Plough conspired to delay the release of studies that showed Vytorin was no more effective than other less expensive cholesterol drugs that have been on the market for years. Reuters reports that Merck and Schering-Plough have agreed to pay a combined $41.5 million to settle more than 100 lawsuits filed by consumers and health plans over Vytorin. Earlier this year, the companies agreed to pay $5.4 million to settle claims filed by 35 state attorneys general regarding the drug. Lewis Krauskopf, Reuters 08/05/2009