DRUG REACTION

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.