Merck Inc. withdraws Zontivity (vorapaxar) from sale in the United States

Merck Inc.,has announced that it will cease marketing Zontivity (vorapaxar) ,a protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) antagonist indicated for the reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events, in the United States as its efforts to promote the drug have not been successful, possibly affected by serious bleeding issues and the imposition of an FDA black box warning. Competitor drugs such a Eliquis,Pradaxa, Brilinta,Effient and Xarelto have developed or are developing reversal agents to control bleeding adverse events .The drug is approved in the EU and continues to be sold there by Merck Inc.