Vioxx Litigation

Oct 08, 2004

Our firm is representing clients that took the prescription drug Vioxx and suffered heart attacks or strokes. Vioxx is a non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drug prescribed for patients with arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and menstrual pains.

Before the FDA could pull this drug from the market, Merck & Co., the maker of Vioxx, voluntarily withdrew it on September 30, 2004. Merck claims they just learned the results of a long-term study which showed that Vioxx users were several times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.

However, as early as 1999 when Vioxx first entered the market, Merck knew the results of other early clinical studies that showed Vioxx users were more susceptible to suffering heart attacks or strokes than patients on the placebo. Merck never warned doctors of these risks until May of 2002 when they were forced by the FDA to changed the label insert to warn of serious cardiovascular events.

Merck continued to sell Vioxx and make billions of dollars in profits without conducting any long term studies. It was not until September 2004, five years after Vioxx was on the market and millions of people worldwide were taking this drug, did they finally admit that this drug was dangerous.

If you know of anyone that has suffered a heart attack or stroke and they were prescribed Vioxx, we would love to hear from you.

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