|
VIOXX (rofecoxib): Worldwide Withdrawal
Our firm is
representing clients that took the prescription drug
Vioxx and suffered Hearts Attacks, Strokes or Kidney
damage. Vioxx is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug prescribed for patients with Osteoarthritis,
Rheumatoid Arthritis and menstrual pains. On
Thursday, September 30, 2004, Merck announced a
voluntary worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx after a
study found that it doubled the risk of
cardiovascular events including heart attack,
stroke, and blood clots.
Before the FDA
could pull this drug from the market, Merck & Co.
the maker of Vioxx choose to voluntarily withdraw
it. Merck claims they just learned Vioxx was
dangerous from the results of along term study they
sponsored. However, as early as 1999 when Vioxx
first entered the market Merck knew the results of
other early clinical studies V.I.G.O.R. that showed
Vioxx users were more likely to suffer heart attacks
or strokes than patients on the Naproxen.
Merck never
warned doctors of these risks until May of 2002 when
they were forced by the FDA to change the label
insert to warn of serious cardiovascular events.
Merck continued to sell Vioxx and earned in sales of
Vioxx over $3 billion a year. It was not until
September 2004, five years after Vioxx was on the
market and exposed to millions of people worldwide
did Merck tell the world of the true dangers and
serious risks of taking this drug.
If
you know of anyone that has suffered a heart attack,
stroke or kidney problems and they were prescribed
Vioxx please contact our office. |
