: : Vioxx Withdrawl and Drug Litigation : :

On Sept. 30, 2004 Merck announced a worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx® (rofecoxib). Vioxx had previously been prescribed in the treatment of arthritis and pain. Worldwide sales of Vioxx in 2003 were an estimated $2.5Billion and the drug was marketed in more than 80 countries around the world. This is one of several recent pharmaceutical products to have been put in the spotlight by both the national media and plaintiff lawyers.

Since sometime in the mid to late 90s a substantial number of pharmaceutical medications and medical devices have been removed from the market due to possible adverse health implications. The FDA acts as a regulatory body in approving health related products before they are marketed to consumers. The FDA moved to ban Ephedra in the US in 2004. However, the recent headlines about voluntary drug withdrawals have produced questions as to the FDA's recent performance.

Many people believe that the FDA did not test the drugs rigorously enough to determine all the possible health problems that they might cause. People believe that the rise in litigation over these medications was due to the fact that the FDA now allows pharmaceutical companies to “fast track” their products and get them through the process in a year. In fact, Vioxx was only released in 1999.

Some of the latest drugs where concerns have also arose are Bextra, Celebrex and Zyprexa. Litigation over these drugs may commence in the near future. US plaintiff lawyers have begun to put some serious time and research into possible claims that may arise from pharmaceutical drugs. Plaintiff lawyers also handle Mesothelioma, Car Accident, and a wide variety of different personal injury cases.

If you think that you may have been injured by a prescription drug that has recently made headlines, you may consider consulting with a lawyer. Many plaintiff attorneys handle cases on a contingency basis.

VIOXX Lawsuits

Vioxx is a prescription medication that has been used primarily in the treatment of signs and symptoms of arthritis, but has also been prescribed to treat acute pain in adults and menstrual pain in women. It is a Cox-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID. Other Cox -2 selective NSAIDs on the market are Celebrex and Bextra. Vioxx is also related to nonselective NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen.

In September of 2004, its manufacturer, Merck & Co, voluntarily recalled Vioxx worldwide, due to safety concerns. The FDA issued a public advisory regarding the safety of Vioxx, though it was pulled from the market before the FDA had an opportunity to do a thorough review.

During a clinical trial in which Vioxx was being studied for its effectiveness for preventing the recurrence of colon polyps and as well as its long term safety, the study had to be halted because of the observed risk of increased cardiovascular risk after 18 months of continuous treatment with 25mg of Vioxx as opposed to those receiving a placebo (sugar pill). Merck pulled the drug from the market when the study confirmed longstanding concerns about the drug and demonstrated that the regular use of Vioxx doubled the patient’s risk of heart attack or stroke if used regularly and for a prolonged period.

The FDA originally approved Vioxx in May 1999. At that time, their data, which included approximately 5,000 patients, did not indicate an increased risk for heart attack and strokes. However, later studies such as the one involving colon polyps, and another to study the effects of Vioxx upon stomach ulcers, show a correlation between the regular use of Vioxx and increased risk for heart attack or stroke.

After the recall of Vioxx, many doctors have recommended patients switch to other Cox-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex or Bextra, however, these medications have raised health concerns as well. Other patients have been advised to treat their symptoms with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

Vioxx Help Center The Vioxx MDL # is 1657: Section L. Correspondence with Judge Eldon E. Fallon may be sent to the following address:

Honorable Eldon E. Fallon
United States District Court,
Eastern District of Louisiana
500 Poydras Street, Room C-456
New Orleans, LA 70130
Tel:(504) 589-7545
Fax: (504) 589-6966
Web Site: Vioxx Product Liability

Wayne Walker is president of CapTran, the leader in litigation financial services. http://www.captran.com

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VIOXX Lawsuits