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Drugmaker Merck & Co.
has pulled its best-selling arthritis drug Vioxx off
the market, based on data indicating the drug increases the risk of heart
attack and stroke among users.
The company announced the immediate, voluntary worldwide withdrawal after
a three-year colon cancer clinical trial revealed that 18 months after
patients started taking Vioxx, test results showed an increased risk of
heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.
A
Wall Street analysis reflects the possibility more than 50,000 Vioxx
users suffered heart attacks or strokes, and that each patient will file a
successful lawsuit against the beleaguered drug maker, according to the
report by Merrill Lynch.
The estimate assumes jury awards or settlements would require Merck to pay
anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 for each lawsuit, and that Merck
might also pay another $1 billion to $2 billion in suits by Vioxx users
who claim some other harm.
A December 2004
Forbes article stated that Merck's Vioxx Liability Could Reach $38
Billion and the average heart attack settlement could be $650,000.
Vioxx, approved in June 1999, is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID),
and is in a class of drugs commonly referred to as a "Cox-2 Inhibitors." It comes in liquid or pill form and is manufactured by Merck & Co. Vioxx
is prescribed to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It can also be
used to treat acute pain in adults such as those patients who experience
severe pain associated with menstruation. Vioxx works by blocking COX-2
enzymes in the body that trigger pain and inflammation.
In addition to heart attacks and strokes, Vioxx has also been associated
with several other life-threatening side effects, including blood clots,
angina and nonbacterial meningitis, severe intestinal damage, ulcerations
and bleeding, and kidney damage.
Many recent Vioxx lawsuits bring to light questions as to when Merck was
first made aware that fatal side effects were associated with Vioxx, and
whether the company failed to inform public health authorities of these
side effects, in a timely manner. Additionally, Merck extensively marketed
Vioxx as highly safe and effective, while minimizing its risks compared to
other drugs on the market.
60 Minutes In Depth
Reporting Reveals: Nov. 14, 2004
"(CBS) When
the pharmaceutical giant Merck pulled its blockbuster pain medication
Vioxx off the market in late September, it became the largest prescription
drug recall in history.
The company says it took immediate action after a new study showed that
Vioxx doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes in some patients.
However, according to internal Merck documents
60 Minutes has seen, and interviews with outside scientists, Merck had
concerns that Vioxx could possibly cause cardiovascular risks long
before it was pulled off the market.
Some 20 million Americans took Vioxx in the
five-and-a-half years it was being sold. It may have contributed to
thousands of heart attacks and sudden deaths. Three government
investigations are now underway to determine just how and why Vioxx became
a prescription for trouble. Correspondent Ed Bradley reports."
Potential Lawsuit
Awards A
Wall Street analysis reflects the possibility more than
50,000 Vioxx users suffered heart attacks or strokes, and that
each patient will file a successful lawsuit against the
beleaguered drug maker, according to the report by Merrill
Lynch.
The estimate assumes jury awards or settlements would require
Merck to pay anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 for each
lawsuit, and that Merck might also pay another $1 billion to
$2 billion in suits by Vioxx users who claim some other harm.
VIOXX, CELEBREX,
BEXTRA LAWYERS / ATTORNEYS If you or a loved one
have suffered from the dangerous side effects of Vioxx, you
should consider receiving a free legal evaluation from an
experienced Vioxx lawyer. For a free evaluation of your
situation please complete the following form and a Vioxx
attorney will contact you promptly -- free of charge.
VIOXX RECALL
NEWS
Family Wins $32 Million in Texas Vioxx Lawsuit April 22, 2006 - L.A. Times - A Texas jury Friday found
that the painkiller Vioxx caused the death of 71-year-old Leonel
Garza and awarded $32 million to his family. Mr. Garza had used
Vioxx for less than a month before he died.
Jury awards $9 mln punitive damages in
Vioxx trial April 11, 2006 - Reuters - A jury
on Tuesday awarded $9 million in punitive damages to a New Jersey man
who blamed Merck & Co. Inc.'s Vioxx painkiller for his heart attack.
Merck
may settle some Vioxx cases, NJ trial looms August 26, 2005 - Reuters - Merck & Co Inc. on Friday signaled
it may consider settling some lawsuits alleging harm from its Vioxx
pain drug, as it gears up for its second Vioxx court battle -- this
time in its own backyard.
Merck
Found Liable For Man's Death In Vioxx Tial
August-19-05 - Bloomberg -Merck & Co. must pay more than $253
million to the family of a Texas man who died after taking the
company's Vioxx painkiller.
FDA Researcher Raises Vioxx Heart Attack and
Stroke Victims' Estimate to 139,000 January 3, 2005, MSNBC, Dr. David
Graham, the U.S. drug safety officer who warned months ago about
risks from Merck & Co. Inc.’s painkiller Vioxx, won clearance to
publish a study arguing the now-recalled drug may have caused up
to 139,000 heart attacks and strokes.
Wall Street Study Projects 50,000+ Lawsuits
Estimate assumes jury awards or settlements would require Merck
to pay anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 for each lawsuit,
and that Merck might also pay another $1 billion to $2 billion
in suits by Vioxx users who claim some other harm.
A December 2004
Forbes article stated that Merck's Vioxx Liability Could
Reach $38 Billion and the average heart attack settlement could
be $650,000.
Merck falls as e-mails suggest Vioxx smoking
gun NEW YORK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Merck &
Co. Inc.'s <MRK.N> Vioxx recall is mushrooming into a
product-liability nightmare that erased another $23 billion of
the company's valuation on Monday, but analysts said it will
likely withstand the crisis. Merck may eventually pay $5 to $15
billion payout.
Merck Shares Plunge on Vioxx Denial News
November 1, 2004, Forbes.com, Shares of Merck & Co. plunged more
than 7 percent Monday after a media report said that documents
show the pharmaceutical giant hid or denied evidence for years
that its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx cause heart problems.
Recall Rattles Patients ; Vioxx Heart Risk
Should Vanish By Discontinuing Use of Drug, Physician Says. October 19, 2004, RedNova.com, Some
arthritis sufferers who appreciated the anti-inflammatory
medicine Vioxx for its power over pain are now worried that the
medicine might have hurt their heart. Dr. Brent Mohr, a
rheumatologist at the South Bend Clinic, said it will take a
while for him and his staff to help patients make the transition
to a different pain reliever.
Vioxx was long under research microscope
October 12, 2004, Newsday.com, The study's findings were
dramatic: 20 patients on Vioxx had heart attacks. Only four had
heart attacks on the comparison drug. But that's not the study
that prompted Merck & Co. to yank Vioxx off the market two weeks
ago.....
How did Vioxx debacle happen?
10/12/2004 USA Today -- Merck yanked Vioxx on Sept. 30
because a new study had found a higher rate of heart attacks and
strokes in patients taking the drug than in those on a
placebo...
Merck Braces For Wave of Vioxx Lawsuits Sat, Oct. 02, 2004, Philadelphia
Inquirer (Philly.com) -- "Our preliminary estimate is that about
16,632 people may ultimately file a legitimate lawsuit" against
Merck over Vioxx, analyst Tim Anderson wrote in a report issued
yesterday by the Prudential Equity Group...
CNN: Arthritis drug Vioxx being pulled NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The arthritis
drug Vioxx, used by millions of people around the world, is
being pulled off the market after a study confirmed
long-standing concerns that it raises the risk of heart attack
and stroke, the manufacturer, Merck & Co., said today...
Dow Average Falls After Merck Withdraws Vioxx;
Nasdaq Advances
Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped
after Merck & Co. retracted its third-quarter profit forecast
because the company said it will no longer sell the Vioxx
painkiller that generated $2.5 billion in sales last year.
ABOUT VIOXX
Vioxx is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and is in a
class of drugs commonly referred to as a "Cox-2 Inhibitors." It comes in
liquid or pill form and is manufactured by Merck & Co. Vioxx is prescribed
to relieve the symptoms of Osteoarthritis. It can also be used to treat
acute pain in adults such as those patients who experience severe pain
associated with menstruation. Vioxx works by blocking COX-2 enzymes in the
body that trigger pain and inflammation.
Vioxx was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in June of 1999.
It has been widely prescribed since its introduction - over 52 million
times. As this drug, along with the similar drug Celebrex, came onto the
market it was touted by its manufacturer as, "effective at reducing
arthritis pain, inflammation and stiffness… also effective for the relief
of pain and inflammation of one of the most severe forms of arthritis,
rheumatic arthritis." Doctors and patients thought that they may have a
perfect drug to stop arthritic and other types of pain, without the
stomach irritation that was otherwise associated with NSAIDs. However,
recent reports linking Vioxx to serious health problems has caused great
concern for the millions of Americans taking these drugs.
Vioxx may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Patients taking
Vioxx were found to be four times more likely to suffer from heart attack
than those taking Naproxen (Aleve). Vioxx is more likely to cause severe
intestinal damage, ulcerations and bleeding, blood clots and toxic
epidermal necrolysis (a fatal skin disease), than other arthritis pain
relievers.
Other health problems seen in patients taking Vioxx, include:
Serious Kidney Problems
Serious kidney problems may lead to acute kidney failure
Serious Liver Problems
Symptoms of liver problems include nausea, tiredness, itching, tenderness
in the upper right abdomen and flu-like symptoms.
Allergic reactions
Symptoms include swelling of face, lips, tongue, and throat which can
cause difficulty breathing or swallowing.
The FDA reports that Vioxx has also been linked to at least five cases
of a non-bacterial type of meningitis, a rare but serious side effect.
These conditions may come about suddenly with few or no symptoms. If left
untreated, hospitalization or even death can occur.
Former University of Southern Mississippi football player, Derrick Nix,
filed a lawsuit against three pharmaceutical companies, including the
makers of Vioxx. The lawsuit claims that Nix suffered kidney failure as a
direct result of his use of Celebrex and Vioxx. He was prescribed the
drugs after sustaining an ankle injury in September 2000 and then began
having kidney problems. In June of 2003, he received a kidney transplant
from his brother. Nix says he has accepted the fact that he will never
again play professional football. "That dream has been taken away," he
said. His case his still pending.
Many recent Vioxx lawsuits bring to light questions as to when Merck was
first made aware that fatal side effects were associated with Vioxx, and
whether the company failed to inform public health authorities of these
side effects, in a timely manner.
Additionally, Merck extensively marketed Vioxx as highly safe and
effective, while minimizing its risks compared to other drugs on the
market. Merck spent almost $161 million dollars to promote Vioxx in the
year 2000, which is more than Pepsi and Budweiser spent combined! Their
heavy marketing campaigns may have resulted in over prescription of the
drug and led many people to use it without understanding its dangers.
Legal actions may be filed against Merck for failing to warn of health
problems associated with the drug, for negligence and for wrongful death.
Each day Americans take thousands of medications with relative ease and
safety. Unfortunately, if the medication you take is defective or not
properly labeled, you may be severely injured. Drug manufacturers are held
responsible for the manufacturing of their products. Their obligation
includes making a safe product that is appropriately inspected and
labeled. Proving that a drug manufacturer is responsible for a defective
product can be a complicated process.
If you, or a loved one, has suffered problems while using Vioxx, you
should contact an attorney immediately to investigate your right to file
suit against the manufacturer of this drug. An attorney with experience
representing victims of medication errors, pharmaceutical mistakes and
medical malpractice would likely yield you the best compensation package.
In general, the types of damages that you may recover include compensatory
damages for past and future pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical
impairment, medical expenses, and lost earnings and earning capacity.
Vioxx Attorneys / Lawyers
Web Links
Consultwebs.com can assist in making recommendations if desired.
Asheville Personal Injury Attorneys
- The Elmore Law Firm handling accident claims, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and other serious injury cases. (828) 253-1492
Austin, TX Personal
Injury Lawyers – Barry & Loewy LLP handling personal injury,
accident, and products liability claims throughout Texas. 1(800)892-5044
Anderson &
Anderson Attorneys, LLP, Personal Injury, Social Security
Disability, Workers' Compensation, Criminal Law, Traffic & DWI, North
Carolina - (888) 895-2962
Chicago Injury Lawyers – Salvi, Schostock & Pritchard, handling Chicago car accidents, Illinois medical malpractice & birth injury claims, wrongful death in Cook County, Lake County, and Illinois personal injury claims.
Robert B. Corris, S.C., Complex
Business Litigation, Fraud, Contacts - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 414-272-8000
Coover & Barr, LLC, Business,
Commercial & Corporate Litigation, Family Law, Real Estate, Columbia, MD -
(410) 997-7600
Cerebral Palsy Injury
- providing CP information for families and those affected by
Cerebral
Palsy, birth injuries, and medical malpractice; Serving the U.S.,
Offices in Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Philadelphia PA - 1-888-4-MEDLAW
Crouse Law Offices, James T.
Crouse - Aviation Disaster & Personal Injury Attorneys, Raleigh, NC -
(919) 861-0503
Glenn, Mills & Fisher, P.A.,
Personal Injury, Professional Malpractice, Employment Discrimination,
Civil Rights, Wills and Estates, Durham, NC, 919-683-2135
Ted
A. Greve & Associates, Auto
& Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death, Mass Torts, Social Security
Disability, Workers' Compensation, Immigration, North Carolina & South
Carolina - (800) 984-7383
Joe
Griffith Law Firm – Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Commercial
Litigation, Charleston, South Carolina - (866) 386 – 6460
Scott C.
Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Medical
Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Birth & Brain Injuries, Hunting &
Firearms Accidents, Binghamton, NY - (607) 724-7700
Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer - Selander O’Brien, PLLC, Protecting the
People of Washington: Accident & Injury Claims. 1-800-734-0404
McEwen Law
Firm, Vioxx Personal Injury Lawyers, Inver Grove Heights,
MN - (651) 224 – 3833
Naples / Fort Myers Injury Lawyers - Our experienced team is centrally located in Lee & Collier counties and represents those injured in car accidents, workplace injuries, and other serious injury claims.
NJ Personal Injury – Our experienced team handles injury and accident claims throughout New Jersey, including those injured in car accidents, workplace injuries, and other serious injury claims.
Truck
Accident Lawyers - Physician |
Nurse Attorneys, Baltimore Maryland, Washington DC, Philadelphia
Pennsylvania, Columbia SC - Servicing the U.S. - 1-888-4-MEDLAW
The Yarborough Law Firm,
Construction Law, Administrative Law, Personal Injury cases,
Real Estate Matters, Corporate and Business matters, Employment Law and
Collections, Fayetteville, NC, 910-433-4433
Timothy J. Wilson, Divorce
& Family Law, Seattle, Washington - (206) 381-3210, Federal Way,
Washington - (253) 874-5826
Washington Injury
-
Accidents & Collisions, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Insurance
Law, Sexual Harassment, Bellingham, WA - (800) 925-1875
Washington
Injury by Brett
& Daugert, Bellingham WA Personal Injury lawyers, Wrongful Death,
Medical Malpractice, Accidents, Product Liability, Cross
Border Claims Lawyers - Bellingham, WA - (360) 733-0212
White &
Allen, P.A., Commercial Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning, Health
Care, Personal Injury, Real Estate, Criminal Law, Kinston and Snow Hill,
NC - (252) 527-8000
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