It was reported last month that federal health officials are still conducting a months-long investigation into possible links between asthma drugs, including Merck’s Singulair, and suicide. In March, the Food and Drug Administration said it was reviewing a handful of reports involving mood changes, suicidal behavior and suicide in patients who had taken Singulair. But, over nine months later, the agency now says it still has not reached a conclusion and will continue its investigation of Singulair and similar drugs. First approved in 1998, Singulair was Merck’s best-selling product last year. The company expects to report between $4.3 and $4.5 billion in sales of the drug for 2008. It is part of a class of drugs that includes AstraZeneca PLC’s Accolate and Critical TherapeuticsInc.’s Zyflo.

Source: Associated Press

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