Personal injury attorneys representing clients who have allegedly been harmed by the prescription drug Vioxx are congratulating themselves over a historic judgment rendered recently. On August 19, 2005, a judge awarded the family of Bob Ernst $253.4 million due to his death from the drug. Vioxx, which had been prescribed most often for arthritis pain, was withdrawn globally by its maker, Merck, after research trials showed it increased patients' chances of a heart attack. Although Merck pulled the drug off the market in September 2004, legal action against this leading pharmaceutical giant will continue and expand. Let's take a look at why Vioxx has become a litigation lightning rod.
In 1998 as Merck was running clinical trials for Vioxx, company reports to the FDA stated that there were no cardiovascular signals apparent. This meant that there were no telltale signs that the drug could cause heart problems for users. Later, however, it was revealed that an internal study conducted by Merck around the same time ? Study 090 ? revealed serious cardiovascular problems as compared to patients not taking Vioxx. The study was never published by Merck as the company insisted that it was not large enough to provide definitive data.
The following year the FDA gave Vioxx its approval and the drug became the second nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication [or COX-2 inhibitor] to hit the market. Celebrex, another problem drug, was the first.
Merck widely and thoroughly launched a marketing campaign upon the introduction of Vioxx to the marketplace. Indeed, by 2003 the drug had entered 80 nations with sales exceeding $2.5 billion. Still, there were problems looming as ongoing tests conducted by Merck hinted of potential deadly side effects.
As early as 2001, the FDA recommended label warnings be put on prescriptions warning users of potential side effects. In addition, Merck was warned by the FDA to quit misleading physicians about potential side effects.
As potential problems began to surface, they served as red flags to industry watchdogs, to the FDA, as well as to personal injury attorneys who began to gather evidence to show that Merck was negligent. Indeed, web sites and advertising campaigns ? meant to inform and attract patients harmed by the drug ? were launched and fairly soon the internet, radio, television, and print media were flooded with advertisements asking those suspecting harm from Vioxx to come forward.
With the September 2004 announcement that Merck was withdrawing Vioxx, personal injury litigation was well on its way to being established. By early 2005, the first cases were filed and the Ernst case became the first Vioxx lawsuit to be settled.
Wrongful death lawsuits against Vioxx's maker, Merck, are expected to increase as the result of the Ernst decision. Personal injury attorneys insist that thousands of former Vioxx users and/or their families are due compensation for Merck's neglect. It remains to be seen if juries will render judgments as large as the Ernst judgment and whether courts will uphold these amounts. Nevertheless, it is certain that Merck is in for a long battle that will reach well beyond its US base.
Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on just about any and every issue imaginable. You can preview samples from his high performing site at http://www.thearticlewriter.com
Rezulin, a prescription type 2 diabetes drug has been withdrawn... Read More
Hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical... Read More
There is the underlying assumption that modernity translates into better... Read More
A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part... Read More
Dr. Horsley is Cornea fellowship trained and Lasik board certified... Read More
If you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),... Read More
The state of Arizona has one of the worst drug... Read More
How many of us have taken aspirin or a similar... Read More
Clinton's recent quadruple bypass surgery has been largely debated. Being... Read More
Today in the United States, there are hundreds of thousands... Read More
When was the last time you enjoyed a good night's... Read More
There is a large amount of talk lately in regard... Read More
NIH Official Altered Drug StudyDr. Edmund Tramont, director of the... Read More
1. Support the affected arm during activities of daily living.... Read More
It is very interesting this hypochondriac attitude which permeates our... Read More
When a patient has a serious illness and there is... Read More
Medical Billing SoftwareThe practice is running smoothly, with patients coming... Read More
Addictions come in many forms. It's important to recognize the... Read More
Don't laugh. Both get a lot of coverage in the... Read More
In the early nineties, Redux was the original miracle diet... Read More
Paxil went on the market in 1992 at the height... Read More
Risperdal is an atypical anti-psychotic drug that balances the levels... Read More
Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medication that works by changing the... Read More
The recent removal of several high profile and popular prescription... Read More
According to the Los Angeles Times, the California Association of... Read More
What Medication Can Cure Me?1. Am I expecting a cure?... Read More
Can you always trust your dentists' recommendations? Think for yourself... Read More
A variety of options exist for hemorrhoid treatment including surgery,... Read More
Naproxen belongs to a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory... Read More
Sit down in a quiet place alone and take a... Read More
Internet Pharmacies are convenient and quick, but some websites selling... Read More
Results of a new study comparing the effectiveness of Pfizer... Read More
Remember the last time you stubbed your toe? OUCH! It's... Read More
One of the least appreciated cost-savers in medical treatment is... Read More
Vioxx is a prescription medication that has been used primarily... Read More
Irritable bowel syndrome sufferers often find that they have to... Read More
Clinton's recent quadruple bypass surgery has been largely debated. Being... Read More
This report will give you 22 important tips to make... Read More
Before a child can be appropriately diagnosed with cerebral palsy,... Read More
In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration relaxed the rules... Read More
A variety of options exist for hemorrhoid treatment including surgery,... Read More
In a recent survey on pain conducted by the Stanford... Read More
Chemical dependency recovery provides with positive changes in reactions and... Read More
Your colon is a place for other parasites and organisms... Read More
I think this is a good time for a checkup,... Read More
With the increasing price of prescription medications, many consumers are... Read More
Pfizer's exciting drug history traces back to the most popular... Read More
Zyprexa is a prescription drug that treats schizophrenia, acute mania... Read More
Technology. We live in a grand time of technological development.... Read More
Before computed tomographic (CT) scans became available in the 1970s,... Read More
As many as 8 out of 10 adults will experience... Read More
Overview Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced and... Read More
Each year hospitals end up killing twice as many people... Read More
How Does Online Pharmacies Affect Pharmacy Leaders?With cheaper drugs made... Read More
There has definitely been a good deal of controversy over... Read More
As pointed out by *Jack Shapiro, an internationally-known healthcare marketing... Read More
The drug Lorazepan is marketed under the names Alzapam, Ativan,... Read More
Peptic ulcers, which are in the stomach and the duodenum... Read More
Don't treat your migraines, prevent them. A life without migraines... Read More
Just about all health care providers have need of stethoscopes.... Read More
Risperdal is an atypical anti-psychotic drug that balances the levels... Read More
As much as 95% of the population suffers from some... Read More
In September, 2004, pharmaceutical giant Merck voluntarily withdrew its painkilling... Read More
No person likes to feel housebound and dependent on others.... Read More
NAION is the latest side effect linked to Viagra and... Read More
Americans are on the go. According to a NSGA Survey,... Read More
Medicine |