Why was Vioxx prescribed?
Voixx was prescribed for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, dysmenorrhoea (menstrual cramps), and pain management.
Developed and manufactured by Merck pharmaceutical company, Vioxx was approved for marketing on May 20, 1999, and withdrawn from the market by Merck on September 30, 2004. Vioxx is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is specific for COX-2 inhibition. It was prescribed in the form of a tablet or oral suspension.
What were some of the complications associated with Vioxx?
Vioxx has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Fudging the Data”
Merck has been severely criticized by the medical and scientific community for submitting a paper to the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in May, 2000, that failed to include the actual number of patients who suffered heart attacks in a Vioxx study (known as “VIGOR”), as well as data on other cardiovascular events. Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine later issued an “Expression of Concern” stating that “inaccuracies and deletions” in the VIGOR manuscript that Merck submitted to the Journal “call into question the integrity of the data.” Merck refused to submit a correction to the Journal. NEJM editors stood by their call for a correction stating that Merck’s drug trial design “skewed” results.
What should I do if I have experienced serious side effects associated with the use of Vioxx or another COX-2 inhibitor?
Attorney Eric Weinberg currently represents hundreds of individuals or their survivors who have suffered serious personal injuries or died as a consequence of taking the prescription drug Vioxx. The firm has filed over 300 cases in Atlantic County, New Jersey, on behalf of victims of the drug Vioxx, and represents other clients whose cases are under investigation.
Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one has taken Vioxx and you have a question about your legal rights, you can request a free case evaluation from our firm by clicking on free case evaluation. You may also contact us toll free at 1-877-934-6274. The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg has been successfully litigating pharmaceutical drug cases for over twenty years and has recovered in excess of seven hundred million dollars on behalf of injured persons.