EMA having second thoughts about Merck's Tredaptive

Regulators in Europe have had an "aha" moment about Tredaptive. The Merck ($MRK) drug for raising good cholesterol is already approved in some countries there, but just failed in a large-scale study at lowering the risk of strokes and heart attacks, while raising some health concerns. The European Medicines Agency, which approved it in 2008 after the FDA had turned it down, has decided to take another look, and very quickly. It says it will decide its recommendation by next month. The drug is not widely prescribed. It has generated only about $13 million in sales, but the EMA and Merck have suggested that it not be prescribed to new patients for now. It said doctors should not stop giving it to patients already taking it. Story | Release