Vioxx®

(rofecoxib)

Since Merck pulled their wonder arthritis and pain killer drug Vioxx® on September 30th, 2004, there has been a great amount of rumor and specualtion on what Merck knew, when they knew it and how costly this ghastly mistake will be. The recalled arthritis drug Vioxx might have played a role in up to 139,000 heart attacks, strokes, and deaths; nearly five times as many as originally estimated, according to a United States Drug Safety official. According to David Graham, associate director for Science and Medicine at the FDA's office of drug safety, "...we are faced with what may be the single greatest drug safety catastrophe in the history of this country or the history of the world". Dr. Graham and his agency have said earlier projections that Vioxx® might have caused roughly 28,000 heart attacks or sudden cardiac deaths "was an extremely conservative estimate."

Instead he said it might have caused as many as 139,000 heart attacks and strokes, with as many as 40 percent of these people (about 55,000) dying as a result. Approximately 425 cases have been filed with the potential of tens of thousands more out there. Competition may be stiff for these cases that could be valued in the six-seven digit range, with over 20 million people having taken Vioxx® in the past five years.