Merck withdraws cholesterol drug Tredaptive globally

Merck & Co Inc said it would withdraw its cholesterol drug Tredaptive from markets worldwide after European regulators recommended that marketing of the drug be suspended.

The drug was under review in Europe after the failure of a major study raised safety concerns.

Merck recommended that physicians stop prescribing the drug and review treatment plans for patients taking it.

(Reporting by Esha Dey in Bangalore; Editing by Maju Samuel)