Merck Cholesterol DrugShows Promise in Study


An experimental Merck & Co. drug more than doubled levels of "good" cholesterol in a new study, and it didn't raise blood pressure like a similar Pfizer Inc. compound did. But Merck, of Whitehouse Station, N.J., still hasn't decided whether to continue development of its drug, anacetrapib, formerly known as MK-0859. It is waiting to see more data that may shed light on why the Pfizer compound failed in tests last year, a Merck executive said.