VIOXX LITIGATION
1-800-510-7862

Merck pulls Vioxx from the Market Due to Serious Problems.

The world's third largest drug manufacturer, Merck and Company pulled Vioxx from the market September 30, 2004. The drug's withdrawal is possibly one of the largest in history, and was not done without realization that serious problems exist with the drug. Vioxx was approved in June 1999 as a new Non Steroidal Antiinflammatory Agent (NSAID) which was effective in blocking the COX-II enzyme. This enzyme plays a key role in inflammation and in pain, and Vioxx was used for it anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic properties. The drug was available as a 12.5, 25, and 50 mg tablet and as an oral suspension for the treatment of pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dysmenorrhea and other conditions. It was marketed as a safer NSAID than older less COX II specific inhibitor medications such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen or Aspirin because it carried a lesser risk profile for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Let Us Evaluate Your Vioxx Case

Vioxx Bottle

Heavy Marketing Boosts Vioxx Sales
Merck heavily promoted Vioxx to both physicians and potential consumers, spending 160.8 million dollars for direct consumer marketing in 2000 alone.You may be familiar with advertisements featuring Dorothy Hamill heavily endorsing the product. Unsurprisingly, annual sales were breathtaking, with 91 million prescriptions written for the drug in the United States alone and worldwide sales last year totalling over 2.5 billion dollars.

Early Health Concerns Ignored
Unfortunately, from the beginning there were suggestions of significant risks associated with the drug. "Red flags right from the beginning were ignored because of business issues," said Researcher Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic. Harvard University researcher and physician Jerry Avorn feels " ... it's taken far too long for it to be resolved. This information was out there waving in the breeze." Prior to its approval, a study done at the University of Pennsylvania may have suggested that Vioxx could increase the risk of heart attack. Subsequent studies also raised the possibilty that patients taking Vioxx were at significantly higher risk of suffering from heart attacks and other serious compications than were those not taking Vioxx. On Sept. 17, 2001,an eight-page warning letter was sent by the FDA to Merck Chief Executive Raymond Gilmartin.The FDA said that Merck engaged "in a promotional campaign for Vioxx that minimizes the potentially serious cardiovascular findings that were observed" in a clinical trial comparing Vioxx to naproxen, a less-expensive painkiller. "Your promotional campaign discounts the fact" that in the trial, "patients on Vioxx were observed to have a four to five-fold increase" in heart attacks, the letter said. Merck was rumored to be arranging a study to prove that Vioxx had a safe cardiovascular profile, but this was never done.

Health Studies Begun Too Late
Sadly, Merck did not acknowledge that there was an increased risk associated with Vioxx use. The company claimed that "extensive review" of Vioxx trials showed "no difference" in heart attacks and later proclaimed that Merck "stands behind the cardiovascular safety profile of Vioxx." However, a study begun by Merck in 2000 to assess the efficacy of Vioxx in preventing the recurrence of colon polyps demonstrated a significantly increased cardiovascular risk associated with Vioxx use. Although there were many warning signs along the way, a profit driven corporate culture allowed many patients to be placed in harms way.

Vioxx Side Effects
Recently a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association linked Vioxx to blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.

Other serious side effects associated with Vioxx usage are:

  • Serious stomach problems, such as stomach and intestinal bleeding, can occur with or without warning symptoms. These problems, if severe, could lead to hospitalization or death. Although this happens rarely, you should watch for signs that you may have this serious side effect and tell your doctor right away.
  • Serious allergic reactions including swelling of face, lips, tongue, and/or throat which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing occur rarely but may require treatment right away.
  • Serious kidney problems occur rarely, including acute kidney failure and worsening of chronic kidney failure.
  • Severe liver problems occur rarely in patients taking NSAIDs. Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver problems. These include nausea, tiredness, itching, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, and flu-like symptoms.

More common, non life threatening, side effects associated with VIOXX have included:

  • Upper and/or lower respiratory tract infections
  • Respiratory tract inflammation
  • Asthma
  • Headache
  • Backache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Stomach pain
  • Heartburn
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Urinary tract infection.
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular Heart rhythm
  • Pulmonary embolus
  • Meningitis
  • Poor Bone Healing
  • Bad Outcome Following Orthopedic Procedures
  • Swelling of the legs and/or feet

If you believe that you or a loved one has been adversely affected by Vioxx, please fill out the form below. Provide as much information as possible to speed the processing of your inquiry.
 
*Items are required.
There is no charge for this evaluation.
 
Contact Information:
*Title: *First Name: MI: *Last Name:
 
*E-mail Address:
*Retype E-mail:
Home Phone:
 - -
Mobile Phone: - -
Work Phone: - - ext.
  *Provide at least 1 phone number.
Street Address:
Apt/Suite:
City:
State/Zip: /
 
What is the best way to reach you?
Please provide the best place, time and method for contacting you.
 
Additional Contact Information:
Use this area to add country codes, foreign addresses, special instructions, etc.
Injured Person Information:
Date of Birth:
Whom are you inquiring on behalf of?
If you are NOT inquiring on your own behalf,
what is your relationship to the injured party?
Is the person deceased? Yes No

If deceased, the cause of death
as stated on the death certificate: 

Date of Death:
Was there an autopsy performed? Yes  No  n/a
Case Information:

During what period of time was Vioxx prescribed?
Start End

Why was Vioxx prescribed?

What dosage of Vioxx were you prescribed daily? (i.e. 25mg, 50mg, 75 mg)

List names/addresses of any doctors who prescribed Vioxx:


Did effects from Vioxx include:

Heart Attack Yes No
Stroke Yes No
Blood Clots Yes No
Deep Vein Thrombosis Yes No
Pulmonary Embolism Yes No
Swelling Yes No
Heart Failure Yes No
Kidney Problems Yes No
Irregular Heart Rhythm Yes No
High Blood Pressure Yes No
Death Yes No


Other medical problems since Vioxx usage:

Other Information:

Disclaimers:
Yes No - I agree that this matter may be referred to an attorney in my area who may contact me.

Yes No - I agree that by submitting this question, I will not be charged for the initial response. I understand that I am forming only a semi-confidential relationship.

Yes - I agree that the above does not constitute a request for legal advice and that I am not forming an attorney client relationship by submitting this question. I understand that I may only retain an attorney by entering into a fee agreement, and that I am not hereby entering into a fee agreement. I agree that the information that I will receive in response to the above question is general information and I will not be charged for the response to this e-mail question. I further understand that the law for each state may vary, and therefore, I will not rely upon this information as legal advice. Since this matter may require advice regarding my home state, I agree that local counsel may be contacted for referral of this matter.


By Clicking the appropriate box below, I agree to:



to Pharmaceutical Litigators
Please note that you are not considered a client until you have signed a retainer agreement and we have accepted your case.