Viox - Eckman Strandness & Egan

Vioxx
personal injury lawyers

On September 30, 2004, drug manufacturer Merck & Co. pulled the prescription drug Vioxx from the market after years of studies and clinical trials that repeatedly confirmed the link between the use of Vioxx and an increased rate of heart attacks and strokes. Approximately 2 million people worldwide were taking Vioxx at the time of the recall, and approximately 84 million people have taken Vioxx since it was first allowed on the market in 1999.

Merck's own studies confirm that many of the people who have taken Vioxx now face an increased risk of serious cardiovascular problems. The thousands of people who had heart attacks or strokes while taking Vioxx are now left wondering whether they might have suffered needlessly. Between 1999, when Vioxx was first introduced, and 2004, when it was pulled from the market, as many as 28,000 heart attacks or deaths may have been caused by Vioxx, according to an FDA study.

Merck failed to acknowledge strong evidence of serious side effects caused by Vioxx so it could continue to make billions of dollars from the sale of the drug. Merck's failures come even though multiple studies confirmed the problems associated with Vioxx and even though it received warnings from the Food & Drug Administration (the "FDA"). The FDA sent Merck a letter in 2001, warning that the labeling on Vioxx minimized problems, stating "You have engaged in a promotional campaign for Vioxx that minimizes the potentially serious cardiovascular findings that were observed in the Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) study, and thus, misrepresents the safety profile for Vioxx," and further noting, "Your minimizing these potential risks and misrepresenting the safety profile for Vioxx raise significant public health and safety concerns." The FDA required Merck to stop their false claims and to send letters to healthcare providers who were misled. Despite those warnings and repeated testing, the drug remained on the market until 2004.

If you or someone you love has suffered a heart attack or stroke as the result of taking Vioxx, please contact us today.
We've been helping injured victims for more than 25 years,
and we can lend that expertise to your case.