The purpose of my post was to establish that this assertion was BS and that the thing you put forth as proof of it was a link to your own post and not a link to the trial that proved the assertion, as was requested.
“I recall reading about a study a few years ago where the BP used a substance in the placebo that would produce the same adverse events that they were expecting their drug to produce.” That's what you were asked to provide a link for and you still haven't done it....because there is no such study.
It's impossible to refute your broad assertion of "manipulation by Merck" when you haven't provided the requested proof of it.