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Vioxx News Updates
The first case in the federal Vioxx
(rofecobxib) multidistrict
litigation against pharmaceutical giant
Merck & Co. Inc. is
scheduled to begin in November 2005. Vioxx
is a member of the
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
family of pain medications used to treat the severe
pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis, and acute menstrual cramping. While the
drug was promoted to offer pain relief without the
gastrointestinal problems associated with other
NSAIDs, Vioxx was found to present significant risks
to users. In fact, Merck & Co. pulled Vioxx (rofecoxib)
from the market in September of 2004 after a
study found that the drug doubled the risk of heart
attack if taken for 18 months of longer. However,
the recent Texas verdict of $253 million, involved a
man who had taken Vioxx for less than 18 months.
At
Keel O'Malley L.L.P., we are dedicated to holding
pharmaceutical manufacturers who continue to make
unsafe or mislabeled drugs accountable and liable
for their actions. Our attorneys help improve the
lives of our clients by fighting for their right to
justice and fair compensation. We have successfully
handled many product liability cases, including
dangerous drugs, for clients in North Carolina.
Vioxx was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 to
treat severe pain. Vioxx is a member of the COX-2
selective pain medications that provide relief
without the gastrointestinal side effects often
associated with non-selective pain medicines, such
as ibuprofen and naproxen. Since the FDA's approval
of COX-2 drugs, an estimated twenty million
Americans have used Vioxx and more than 84 million
people worldwide have taken the drug. The FDA
estimates that Vioxx may have been responsible for
as many as 27,000 heart attacks and cardiac deaths
since it was approved. Ironically, just one month
before the medication's removal from the market,
drug maker Merck issued a press release endorsing
Vioxx's safety.
How long did Merck know about Vioxx's potentially
deadly side effects, and why did the FDA approve the
prescription drug? During the first half of 2004,
Merck invested $45 million to promote Vioxx.
In the year prior to its recall, Vioxx sales brought
Merck $2.5 billion in revenue. To date, there are
more than 3,800 product-liability and personal
injury Vioxx lawsuits filed against Merck.
A drug company who makes safe and effective
medications deserves a profit for helping and
improve and save lives . However, when a
pharmaceutical manufacturer knowingly places profit
above public safety, and federal regulators seem
unable to effectively protect consumers, serious
concerns arise.
At
Keel O'Malley L.L.P., we believe that consumers have
the right to medication that is safe when taken as
directed. If you or a family member has been
injured by Vioxx or have lost a family member
because this drug, please contact us today. Our
team of attorneys, legal assistants, a professional
investigator and a registered nurse
will review and analyze
your case. We will discuss the situation with you
in an initial consultation that is always free. Call
Keel O'Malley, L.L.P. at (252) 823-2266 or toll free
at (800) 755-1987 or
submit an online
questionnaire. We will work
for you on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we
collect attorney's fees only if there is a monetary
recovery of funds.
In North Carolina, a statute of limitations applies
to product liability claims, including Vioxx. If you
feel that you or a loved one have been injured by
Vioxx, please do not hesitate to contact us to
discuss your claim.
Vioxx News Updates
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