Vioxx
Statistics
In their 1999 annual
report, Merck described Vioxx as their biggest fastest
launch ever, with over 5 million prescriptions written
the first seven months on the US market. Merck reported
over 578 million dollars of anti-inflammatory drug sales
in 1999 alone!
Statistics show that people who take the prescription
drug Vioxx for an extended period of time of up to
eighteen months or more have a much higher risk of
developing cardiovascular disease including heart attack
and/or stroke.
As
a result of a three-year clinical study performed by
Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx, statistics of serious
and/or fatal side effects prompted the pharmaceutical
company to voluntarily withdraw the drug from the
market.
Furthermore, statistics in the Vioxx controversy show
that this recall has hurt the pharmaceutical industry
including many innocent investors who invested their
savings in Merck stock in amounts exceeding $50 billion
dollars with another $20 billion in lawsuit settlements
possible.
Frequently Asked
Questions about the statistics of taking Vioxx
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Q: |
How can I make sense of all the statistics
on Vioxx? |
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A: |
We can help!
We realize there is such an overload of
information about Vioxx in the news and on
the internet. When you contact our
specialists, they can help you decipher
the Vioxx information that is relevant to
you and help you to take the appropriate
action. |
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Q: |
How many people are reported to have had a
stroke, heart attack or sudden death due to
Vioxx? |
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A: |
More than 27,000 cases were
reported from 1999—when Vioxx was released on the
market—to 2003
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Q: |
I’ve heard that the statistics are wrong and
that Vioxx is no more dangerous than other
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or
NSAIDs. Is this true? |
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A: |
Since Merck,
the manufacturer of Vioxx, made millions
from Vioxx, it seems impossible that Merck
would have pulled this best-selling drug
from the market unless their own studies and
statistics had warranted it. It is
interesting to see that the FDA has recently
required all NSAID anti-inflammatory drugs
to carry a warning label due to the risk of
serious side effects. By taking this action,
the FDA has basically said that all NSAID
anti-inflammatory drugs are not perfectly
safe, so saying Vioxx is as safe an any
other anti-inflammatory drug is not a good
endorsement. |
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Q: |
How bad can Vioxx really be if the FDA
approved it? |
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A: |
The FDA
approved the marketing of Vioxx in 1999 and
supported Merck’s decision to recall the
drug in 2004, after studies showed
life-threatening side effects. |
If you or someone you know
is one in the many stroke, heart attack and/or death
statistics related to the prescription drug Vioxx,
contact our specialists to see if you qualify for
monetary reimbursement for your suffering!
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