Vioxx Articles

Trenton, N.J.: Vioxx is the impetus feeding the fire of over 44,000 personal injury lawsuits being exacted against Pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co. The drug has caused several incidences of heart ailments, strokes, and even cases of death from its side effects. The former painkiller was eliminated from the market in 2004. The 44,000 personal injury cases are just from plaintiffs in the United States. Former patients that used Vioxx in 18 other nations have stepped forward demanding a refund for the money spent on the drug. Also, health care professionals and stockholders in these nations are demanding repayment for the losses they've incurred from the drug going South. Fresh lawsuits from overseas areas continue to come in.

Whitehouse Station, NJ: In a stunning announcement that also provides a peek into the vaults of a pharmaceutical giant, it was revealed late yesterday that Merck & Co. Inc has thrown the first volley that it hopes will result in a settlement of Vioxx lawsuits to the tune of $4.85 billion.

Washington, DC: Legal experts say the recent court ruling in Bush's home state of Texas that failure-to-warn claims against Merck by Vioxx victims in state courts are preempted is particularly egregious due to the FDA's failure to protect the public against Merck's deceptive mass-marketing of Vioxx as a safe drug for basically 5 years.

Washington, DC: The FDA is still helping Merck escape liability for the Vioxx disaster. Texas Judge Randy Wilson, who is overseeing the Texas state court proceedings, recently granted Merck's motion to dismiss possibly thousands of lawsuits, essentially because the FDA refuses to acknowledge that Merck concealed information about the safety risks of Vioxx.

Whitehouse Station, NJ: When Vioxx was pulled off of the market in 2004, the suspicion was that the popular anti-inflammatory drug manufactured by Merck & Co. had the potential for causing heart attacks within 18 months of first taking it.

New York, NY: Former users of Vioxx could be at risk for developing strokes for years after they have discontinued using the medication, a prominent public health expert has reported.