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There are more than 6,500 lawsuits filed against
Merck & Co., maker of the popular arthritis drug
Vioxx, and each one of those lawsuits accuses the
drug maker of failing to inform public health
authorities of the heart risks and other serious
side effects that can occur in patients on Vioxx.
More than 1 million Americans were taking Vioxx when
Merck & Co. withdrew it from the market on September
30, 2004. It has been cited for raising the risk of
cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause
of death in the United States. However, proof of
that did not come until five years after the drug
was licensed and three years after the first hints
of a problem.
The drug was licensed in
June 1999. Since then, more than 20 million
Americans have taken Vioxx. In September 2001, the
FDA sent Merck an eight-page warning letter about
the company’s promotional campaign for Vioxx. The
letter indicated that the campaign minimized “the
potentially serious cardiovascular findings that
were observed” in a trial that compared the drug to
naproxen, a less-expensive painkiller. The FDA
charged that Merck discounted the fact that
"patients on Vioxx were observed to have a four- to
five-fold increase" in heart attacks, compared with
patients on naproxen.
Vioxx – a non-steroidal,
anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) – is in a class of
drugs commonly referred to as "Cox-2 Inhibitors". It
comes in liquid or pill form, and 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 previous years, Merck
consistently denied any possible links between Vioxx
and cardiovascular problems. However, a 2004
clinical trial sponsored by Merck itself found that
people taking a low dose of Vioxx for more than 18
months were twice as likely to have a heart attack
or stroke as those taking a placebo. Merck now faces
a flood of lawsuits.
Merck lost the first
trial over Vioxx in August 2005 when a Texas jury
awarded $253 million in damages to the widow of a
Vioxx user. Under Texas law, that will be cut to no
more than $26 million, and Merck plans to appeal. In
November, Merck won its first major victory when a
New Jersey state jury found that the drug maker
properly warned consumers about the risks of the
medication. The finding means Merck won’t be held
liable for the 2001 heart attack suffered by a man
taking Vioxx.
In addition to
increasing 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 (such as 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
include:
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Serious kidney problems that could lead to acute
kidney failure.
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Serious liver problems.
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Allergic reactions, such as swelling of the
face, lips, tongue, and throat which can cause
difficulty breathing or swallowing.
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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. Contact the Louisiana lawyers at
the Babcock Law Firm immediately if you are
experiencing any of the above-listed side effects of
Vioxx. Drug litigation can be extremely complex. It
is best to seek the counsel of a personal injury
attorney with experience in this field of law. The
Babcock Law Firm has a sophisticated litigation and
appellate practice, but we use an insightful,
common-sense approach to solving our clients’
problems.
We have
offices in Baton Rouge and Ruston, and represent
clients in New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles,
Alexandria, Shreveport, Monroe, Houma, Bossier City
and nearly every place in between. In Baton Rouge,
call us at (252) 344-0911; in Ruston, (318)
255-0911, or call us toll-free at 1-866-309-0911.
You may also contact us through our online
evaluation form.
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