Vioxx® Recall: Consult a Lawyer If You Have Been Harmed
On September 30, 2004, Merck & Co Inc. voluntarily pulled the popular arthritis medication Vioxx® from the market after studies proved that it doubled users’ risk of heart attack and stroke. Taking sales into account, the Vioxx® recall is the largest drug recall in history.
It’s so large, in fact, that Merck’s stock plummeted 27 percent the day of the recall, deflating the company’s stock value by $25 billion and decreasing the Dow Jones average by a full 0.6 percent. Vioxx®, prior to the recall, reportedly accounted for more than 10 percent of the company’s revenue in 2003.
Scientific evidence that linked Vioxx® to serious health problems prompted the recall, although Merck maintains that the risk is relatively low. In a study of 3,000 Vioxx® users, there were 15 cases of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots over a three-year span, which is precisely double the number of cases among patients taking a placebo. This minimal risk was enough for Merck to remove the drug from the market.
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not mandate the Vioxx® recall, it has issued a public health advisory to everyone who uses Vioxx®, encouraging them to speak with their physician about an alternative medication. In the meantime, all patients are advised to stop taking Vioxx®.
If you would like to know more about Vioxx® or have been harmed by taking Vioxx®, please consult a Vioxx® lawyer who specializes in pharmaceutical litigation. Category Archive | Find a Lawyer
Contact a Vioxx® lawyer in your area.