VIOXX®
Merck Voluntarily Recalls Vioxx® After Experts Claim it Can Cause Serious Injury
Vioxx, the trade name of the generic drug rofecoxib, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 1999, for the treatment of osteoarthritis, menstrual pain and the management of acute pain in adults. Merck & Co. Inc. voluntarily recalled this widely prescribed drug on September 30, 2004, amidst evidence that it drastically increased users’ risk of heart attack and stroke. The Vioxx recall is believed to be the most expensive drug recall in the history of the pharmaceutical industry.
A three-year study of 1,300 Vioxx users found 15 cases of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots; this was three times the number reported among participants taking a placebo. Although Merck maintains this risk was relatively low, it nonetheless removed Vioxx from the market to prevent further injury.
On August 19, 2005, a verdict was reached in the first Vioxx case to go to trial in the entire country. The result: a jury awarded $253 million in damages to Carol Ernst, the surviving widow of Robert Ernst. In 2001, Robert Ernst, a physically fit triathlete who had been taking Vioxx for tendonitis, died of a heart attack while sleeping.
If you or someone you love has taken Vioxx, please contact your physician to discuss the issues surrounding this dangerous drug. In addition, you should contact a qualified attorney to discuss possible legal remedies for the harm that this drug may have caused you.
Hackard & Holt has a wealth of experience in pharmaceutical product liability litigation. Our firm posseses the expertise and the resources necessary to obtain the best results for our clients. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case!