Vioxx, a Cox 2 Inhibitor, was widely marketed and advertised as an effective treatment for arthritis, often specifically for osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, Vioxx and other Cox 2 inhibitors have been tied to serious heart problems. Many people who were taking these drugs subsequently suffered major cardiovascular events including heart attacks which led to serious injury and in some cases, death.
COX-2 inhibitors are non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Older NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen reduce inflammation throughout the body, and therefore pain, by blocking an enzyme called COX-2, but while blocking COX-2 enzymes, they also block another enzyme called COX-1. COX-1 protects the lining of the stomach, so when it is blocked, it causes stomach irritation, an aggravating side effect of older NSAIDs. COX-2 inhibitors only block COX-2, leaving COX-1 enzymes intact to protect the stomach.
Merck, the drug company behind Vioxx pulled the drug from the market in 2004 just before a number of studies linking Vioxx and thousands of patient deaths were released. Vioxx side effects were sweeping through patients. One study alone cited that out of their 1.4 million patients more than 27,000 sudden cardiac deaths were linked to this defective drug. Before the Vioxx withdrawal the FDA had warned that patients taking Vioxx have a 50% higher incidence of heart attacks and the study also found that patients taking the highest recommended daily dosage of Vioxx had three times the risk of heart attack.
Part of the issue with the number of deaths caused by Vioxx side effects, was the incredible marketing that came with the drug. Merck spent a staggering $160.8 million on marketing directly to the end consumer. The commercials were memorable and they worked, launching Vioxx into an incredible popular position in the pharmaceutical market. Of course, the more people that knew about it, the more people that took it and therefore the more people that were negatively affected by the drug defect.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the Vioxx rise and fall was the knowledge Merck had about the dangers Vioxx posed to cardiovascular health as early as 1996. Despite the problems, the FDA approved Vioxx on May 20, 1999 for use in pain management in adults and for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. It wasn’t until studies were coming out with damning information about Vioxx that prompted Merck to finally pull the drug from the market in the Vioxx recall.
At this point in time there are literally thousands of Vioxx lawsuits pending against Merck for the manufacture, marketing and production of a dangerous and defective drug. If you have taken Vioxx or someone you love has taken Vioxx and been adversely affected or died from Vioxx side effects, you should contact a product liability attorney or defective drug attorney as quickly as possible. This year more and more evidence is coming out about the culpability of Merck in the production and marketing of Vioxx, so if you have a claim, you should file your lawsuit now. Find a reputable Vioxx attorney who can advise you on how to proceed.