The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration released a study on November
2004 that said VIOXX ® may have contributed to
an additional 27,785 heart attacks or deaths
from 1999 to 2003.
A new analysis published online by the British
journal The Lancet could help fuel the lawsuits.
Swiss researchers led by Peter Juni of the University
of Bern pooled results from 29 studies of VIOXX ®
and found that people who took it had more than
double the risk of heart attack than those given
dummy pills or other painkillers.
Richard Evans, an analyst at Stanford C. Bernstein
Research. He estimates Merck's legal costs could
reach $12 billion.
Experts estimate that Merck will pay between
$100,000 to $300,000 per settlement.
Wyeth took its drugs off the market in 1997
and has paid out $13.6 billion in legal fees
and settlements of its $16.6 billion reserve
-- believed to be the biggest amount ever paid
by a pharmaceutical company over a problem drug.
Baycol was withdrawn in 2001 and Bayer has paid
out $1.09 billion so far.
Only 6 million individuals took Wyeth's diet
drugs while 20 million Americans took VIOXX ®.
That has led some observers to believe VIOXX ®'s
payout could be larger. |
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Sept 30, 2004 - Merck Announces Voluntary Worldwide Withdrawal of VIOXX ®
VIOXX ®, arthritis and acute pain medicine, was pulled from the market today by Merck after a study confirmed that it increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.
"We are taking this action because we believe it best serves the interests of patients," Merck Chairman and CEO Raymond V. Gilmartin said in a press release.
The company said its decision to withdraw VIOXX ® from the market is based on new three-year data from a colon cancer trial.
"In this study, there was an increased relative risk for confirmed cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, beginning after 18 months of treatment in the patients taking VIOXX ® compared to those taking placebo," Merck said in a press release.
Read Full Press Release at Merck.com
THE QUICK FACTS ABOUT VIOXX ®!
- VIOXX ® prescriptions have been written for Ninety one million people in the U.S. alone.
- VIOXX ® (rofecoxib) was used for arthritis and acute pain medication.
- VIOXX ® Worldwide sales in 2003 were $2.5 billion.
- VIOXX ® was launched in the United States in 1999 and has been marketed in more than 80 countries.
- VIOXX ® October 13, 2003 - Australia's October newsletter for Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (ADRAC) warned that VIOXX ® has been linked to a variety of potentially adverse health effects including heart attacks, convulsions and birth defects.
- VIOXX ® May 27, 2002 - New research suggests that VIOXX ® may delay healing of a broken bone. There is no proof yet that anti-inflammatory painkillers cause major bone problems, but some bone experts call the research compelling enough that doctors should explain the risk to patients. Merck and Pharmacia the makers VIOXX ® deny any link.
- VIOXX ® May 27, 2002 - Researchers discovered that an enzyme called cox-2, which causes pain and inflammation, also appears to play a crucial role in bone healing. VIOXX ® and Celebrex fight pain by blocking cox-2.
- VIOXX ® April 2002 - The FDA implemented VIOXX ® labeling changes to include the findings of increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke from the VIGOR study.
- VIOXX ® April 2002 - A recent study by the FDA suggested patients taking VIOXX ® have a 50 percent greater risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death than those taking Pfizer's rival arthritis treatment Celebrex. Other studies have also suggested an increased risk of cardiovascular events to occur among VIOXX ® patients.
- VIOXX ® April 2002 - The Journal of the American Medical Association has linked the popular and heavily marketed arthritis drug, VIOXX ®, to dangerous blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
Contact a VIOXX ® Attorney
THE QUICK FACTS ABOUT VIOXX ® SIDE EFFECTS!
- High risk of heart attacks
- Chest pain
- Stroke
- Sudden death
- Blood clots
- Stomach problems
- Intestinal bleeding
- Upper and/or lower respiratory infection
and/or inflammation
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heartburn, stomach pain, and upset stomach
- Swelling of the legs and/or feet
- High blood pressure
- Back pain
- Tiredness
- Urinary tract infection
- VIOXX ® side effects could lead
to hospitalization or death.
- Allergic reactions including swelling of face, lips,
tongue, and/or throat which may cause difficulty
breathing or swallowing but may require treatment
right away
Contact
a VIOXX ® Attorney
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What
our Visitors are saying about using VIOXX ®:
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 3 Yrs - "Experienced
two heart attacks after taking VIOXX ® for about two years...
cause was blocked arteries."
James D. Bloomington,
IL.
Stroke: VIOXX ® User:4 Yrs - "I was on VIOXX ® until
Jan of this year. In march of this year I had a massive stroke." - Fred
C. Shargsburg, KY
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 1 Yr - "I
was hospitalized for chest pain and shortness of breathe
at the end of last year in the month or December. My
stress test came back okay but my blood work was not
normal. I have since lost some weight and that has helped
the chest pains and shortness of breath to let up some." - Belinda
T. Charlston, WV
Stroke: VIOXX ® User: 2 Yrs - " A little
over a year ago, I had numbness in my arm and face,
immediate loss off memory."
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 2
Yrs - " Prescribed
for arthritic pain. Not very effective-discontinued. Heart
attack followed later with clot near heart. Stint
implanted and clot removed by venous catheter." - Dennis
E. Trona, CA
Stroke: VIOXX ® User: 1 Yr - " I
had two miner strokes within a week and a half of
each other after the dosage was increased. - Ralph
B. Ravenna, OH
Stroke: VIOXX ® User: 1 Yr - "My side
effects included stomach aches/heartburn, a swollen
lip, and tiredness." - Kim V. Vancouver, WA
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: - "My husband Gerry S. died of
a heart attack while taking VIOXX ®. He was only 51 years old. - Angela
S. Coos Bay, OR
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 1 Yr - "My 76 yo mother had
blockage of artery in neck...surgery preformed. Not long after that a
heart attack...quad by pass. During which time strokes also presented. She
was taking VIOXX ® for over a year but can\'t get Merck Medco to send us
a log." - Willie
G. Dehham , LA
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 2-3 Yrs - " Had heart attack
about 6 months ago. Blood clots. 2 stents were inserted, in 2 different
operations. Lots of shortness of breath. Occasional trouble swallowing. Continuing
chest pains. Took VIOXX ® 2 to 3 years ago. Not sure how long. Should
be able to get Dr. Reports if needed. I am 67 years old in medium or
less health." Ruth B. Johannesburg, CA
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 1 Yr - "I
Was Taking It For Inflammation In My Ankle. Then In January 2002 I Had A Stroke.
Stayed A Week In The Hospital And About A Week Or More In Rehabition. I Have
Seizures And Had A Nother Small Stroke In February Of 2004 . Thanks - Sherry
B. Hope, AR
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: - "My father
was prescribed VIOXX ® when he suffered a heart attack
in 1999. he later died in 2001 as a result of that heart
attack." - Lisa H. Evansville, IND
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 1-2 Yrs "Not
exactly sure of the length of time I was taking VIOXX ®,
but I can think of no other reason why I would have
had a heart attack, as i was totally relaxing when
it happened." John B. Marysville,
OH
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User: 5 Yrs - " After
taking VIOXX ® for several months my father\'s blood pressure
spiked at a level too high for me to measure. It
took the doctors in the emmergency room over 3 hours
to normalize it. He was in the hospital for several days.
After that his health deteriated until he died on April
6, 2003 (one year and three months later)." - Edwin C.
Judsonia, AR
Heart Attack: VIOXX ® User:
6-7 Yrs - " Just
this past two months, my father in law has suffered heart
attacks and other and doctors relating this the VIOXX ®.
This almost killed him and suffering from this now. Please
call ASAP to go after these people." - James M. Manhattan
Beach, CA
Stroke: VIOXX ® User: 1 Yr = " My father
took VIOXX ® and suffered a massive stroke. I\'m not sure
if the two are related." Bernetta M. Philadelphia,
P
Hundred of VIOXX ® users have left their comment to share
with other users. If you would like to share your experience
with using VIOXX ® fill out our contact form in the comments
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