House committee widens probe of Vytorin safety

Those questions centered on any financial and other ties between the companies and the Oxford scientists.

Yancosek wrote that Peto does not work for her company, and it doesn't control his activities.

Meanwhile, both the House committee and the Senate Finance Committee have been investigating for months whether Merck and Schering-Plough Corp. delayed releasing results of another Vytorin study that showed it was no better at reducing plaque buildup in the arteries than just Zocor, which is available as a cheap generic.

Merck and Schering-Plough sell Vytorin and Zetia through a joint venture. The two drugs last year brought in $5.1 billion.