• The New York Times, Thursday, January 24, 2008 1:30 PM

The American Heart Association--which last week came to the defense of Vytorin after a study found that it worked no better than cheap Zocor alone in reducing artery plaque--was itself questioned yesterday when it was revealed that it receives nearly $2 million a year from Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, the joint venture that markets Vytorin.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to send letters today to the association and Merck/Schering-Plough asking about their relationship. A letter will also be sent to the American College of Cardiology, a much smaller group, which also receives drug industry money and which also released a statement last week advising patients not to stop taking Vytorin without consulting their doctors.

Both organizations say that the industry financing has nothing to do with their statements, which they say they issued in response to public confusion about the meaning of the Vytorin study. Merck/Schering-Plough also say it played no role in the statements.

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