Scientists wary of Vioxx effects

Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory drug, may cause heart attacks and strokes because of its blood-clotting properties, British scientists say. 

These particular class of drugs drugs, called COX-2 inhibitors, are primarily used to treat pain caused by conditions such as arthritis. They work by blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which is expressed at the particular sites of inflammation and underlies the production of hormones called prostaglandins, which in turn, swell the joints and cause the feeling of pain.

Class-action lawsuit sought for Vioxx death

The wife of a Canadian resident who took the painkiller Vioxx is asking Quebec’s Superiour Court to authorize a class-action lawsuit against Merck & Co., Inc.

A petition was filed on Monday, November 6, 2006 for a class-action lawsuit against Merck and its Canadian divisions on behalf of close relatives and spouses of former Vioxx users.

Vioxx cousin is approved

On Nov. 7, 2006 Novartis announced that its painkiller Prexige had been approved by Health Canada for sale in that country. Prexige, like Vioxx and Bextra, is a COX-2 inhibitor – a family of drugs that has been linked to increased cardiovascular risks and other serious side effects. It is the first COX-2 inhibitor to be approved for use in Canada since Vioxx was removed from the shelves worldwide two years before.

Journal decries Vioxx handling

In October 2006, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published two editorials that called for better regulations and more funding to enforce those regulations, citing the removal of Vioxx from the shelves as the prime example of how the system failed. Both editorials were in support of a recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) review of the drug approval system in the United States.

Texas woman wins $253 million for Vioxx

 “One death in my life would make a difference. Why wouldn't it make a difference to them?” – Juror Derrick Chizer

That was the sentiment of most of the jurors, who voted 10-2 to award $253 million to a Texas woman whose husband had died as a result of taking Merck’s painkiller. This was the first Vioxx wrongful death suit heard in U.S. court, which concluded in August 2005. Most of the award ($229 million) was in the form of punitive damages. However the total amount to be actually awarded is likely closer to $26 million, since Texas law has caps on punitive damages.

Journal expresses Vioxx concerns

Editors at the New England Journal of Medicine said in their Feb. 23, 2006 editorial that they “reaffirm our expression of concern” about Merck’s handling of its Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) study. The concerns focus mainly on the data contained in the study – and that which was left out.

Vioxx presents larger problem

In February 2005, an FDA advisory committee made up of 32 industry experts recommended that “black box” warnings be placed on Bextra, Vioxx, and other members of the so-called “next generation” of pain relievers. However, the committee did not recommend that the FDA pull these pain relievers from the market. At that point, Vioxx had already been “voluntarily” removed by its manufacturer Merck. Pfizer's Bextra has since been pulled too, though both may be re-released. Celebrex, a sister drug of Bextra made by Pfizer, is the only one of its class still on the market.

Vioxx coverup exposed

On Dec. 8, 2005 the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) released an editorial stating that it has found proof some heart attacks related to Vioxx use were omitted from a key study. The now-famous VIGOR (Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research) study in 2000 was designed to compare gastrointestinal events (ulcers, etc.) between Vioxx and another pain reliever, naproxen. Cardiovascular events including heart attacks and strokes were monitored as well, and gave the first official indication that Vioxx increased the risk of heart attacks.

Jury is still out on Vioxx

On Nov. 3, 2005 in what has come to be known as the Second Vioxx Trial, jurors found that Vioxx did not directly cause the minor heart attack of a Boise, Idaho Vietnam War veteran. The now-banned painkiller, manufactured by Merck & Co. Inc., has been scientifically proven to increase the risk of heart attack and other “cardiovascular events.”

Trial spurs Vioxx withdrawal

Although concerns about COX-2 inhibitors go back to the mid-1990s, Merck did not pull its own painkiller Vioxx off the shelves until September 30, 2004. In a press release that day, Merck stated that its decision was based on “new, three-year data from a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the APPROVe (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx) trial.”

FDA reports on Vioxx

An FDA report published in the Lancet, a British medical journal, found that “Rofecoxib use increases the risk of serious coronary heart disease compared with celecoxib use.

Naproxen use does not protect against serious coronary heart disease.” Rofecoxib is the generic name of Vioxx.

Vioxx problems disastrous

Merck & Co. Inc. introduced Vioxx to help 40 million arthritis sufferers reduce their inflammation and pain. Although there were already other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on the market, Vioxx was among a few special drugs that reduced certain side effects like ulcers and other stomach problems. That’s a big reason why within 11 days of approval Vioxx was stocked in 30,000 pharmacies across the country.

Vioxx use can prove fatal

Vioxx was developed and patented by Merck & Co., Inc. to help relieve sufferers of arthritis and acute pain. The drug blocks production of a certain chemical in the body that causes painful inflammation, fever, local swelling, and tenderness. It has been found to be extremely effective for a number of afflictions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual cramps, and severe headaches. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vioxx for commercial sale in 1999, and it quickly became one of the most prescribed drugs in the United States, with $2.3 billion in sales at its height in 2003.

Vioxx can cause heart attacks

On Sept. 30, 2004 Merck withdrew its popular anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx due to concerns over the increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart problems. There is much controversy about whether the drug should have been pulled from the market much earlier since previous studies seem to indicate the same conclusion.

A glossary of terms pertaining to Vioxx

Many studies have shown that Vioxx does indeed increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other “cardiovascular events.” However unless you are a medical doctor, understanding exactly what types of heart problems Vioxx causes can be difficult. Here is a brief overview of some of the terms you may come across in your research.

Vioxx problems were known early

The Associated Press reported in June 2005 that Merck knew that users of Vioxx ran a greater risk of heart attack. When a now-famous report released in March 2000 stated that those taking Vioxx were five times more likely to have a heart attack than those using the generic drug naproxen, officials at Merck denied that Vioxx was made of a defective formula.