Hiring a Vioxx lawyer

As noted, lawyers are already actively looking for Vioxx patients and the families of Vioxx patients who feel that the use of Vioxx may have lead to a heart attack or stroke, or other side-effect, with the aim of launching class-action or individual lawsuits against Merck. Most experts suggest that plaintiffs may face a difficult challenge as they may have to prove that Merck ought to have known that the drug was potentially unsafe for long-term use. There is at least anecdotal evidence to suggest that the use of Vioxx has indeed resulted in deaths as a result of heart attacks in otherwise apparently healthy individuals. Of course, anecdotal evidence is both suspect and not of much value to a lawyer or plaintiff in a lawsuit as it is easily dismissed as poor science. More hard scientific data may be necessary, and now the very clinical trial that may have definitively answered the question or provided the complete evidence has been ceased (rightfully so - it would be foolish to put other patients at risk). One other study may reveal some clues or add fuel to the Vioxx lawyer's fire…

In March 2000, results of the VIGOR (Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research) study, demonstrated that while the risk of side effects such as stomach ulcers and bleeding in patients taking Vioxx was less than with naproxen, another popular pain reliever, there was an increased incidence of "cardiovascular events," presumably heart attacks, in patients using Vioxx versus naproxen. However, this was not the case in other studies including Merck's critical Phase III studies that were the basis of regulatory approvals of the drug. In these studies which compared Vioxx with placebo and other non-naproxen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's), found no increase in heart attacks and other cardiovascular incidents. Following the VIGOR study, Merck apparently began to conduct longer-term studies into the extended, chronic use of Vioxx.

The U.S. FDA originally approved Vioxx in May 1999. According to the FDA, the original safety database included assessments of some 5000 patients taking Vioxx and did not show an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. However, the FDA admits that the VIGOR study showed a greater number of heart attacks in patients taking Vioxx. The VIGOR study was apparently discussed at a meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the new safety information from this study was added to the labeling for Vioxx in April 2002.

The success of a Vioxx lawyers future lawsuit(s) against Merck may hinge of the data in these prior studies. Did Merck have enough information to warrant additional labeling and warnings to both patients and physicians? Well, this is a matter for the Vioxx lawyers, Merck, the FDA, and the courts to work out.

If you feel that you or a family member may have been affected by a heart attack or stroke caused by Vioxx, you should contact a lawyer for advice. You should also visit www.fda.gov/medwatch to report your belief to the FDA.