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:
- Serious kidney
problems that could lead to acute kidney failure.
- Serious liver
problems.
- Allergic reactions,
such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and
throat which can cause difficulty breathing or
swallowing.
- 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.
