Vioxx Lawsuit

On September 30, 2004, Merck & Co. announced the Vioxx withdrawal after clinical studies linked the drug with increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. The recall came more than three years after researchers in another study reported elevated incidences of heart attacks and strokes.

Martin & Jones has compiled important news on the Vioxx recall and recent developments in the Vioxx lawsuit. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured after use of Vioxx, we encourage you to contact us.

Vioxx Settlement

Jury Finds Merck Responsible in Vioxx Lawsuit Involving Long-Term User

November 9, 2007—Merck announced that is has offered $4.85 billion to settle 27,000 lawsuits filed by people claiming injuries after taking Vioxx.

Vioxx was removed from the market in September 2004 after several studies revealed that the drug was associated with a substantially greater risk of heart attacks and strokes.

April 5, 2006—A New Jersey jury found that Vioxx caused the heart attack suffered by a long-term user of the drug. This was the first case to reach trial involving a plaintiff who had used Vioxx for a lengthy period. The jury awarded the man $4.5 million in damages.

The same jury rejected the claims of another man who argued his heart attack also was caused by Vioxx. That person was awarded just $45, reimbursement for his prescription costs.

In February 2006, a federal jury in New Orleans decided Merck was not responsible for the death of a man who used Vioxx for less than one month before dying of a heart attack.

The New Jersey verdict illustrates the problems Merck will face in cases involving plaintiffs who used the drug for longer periods of time. Merck already has acknowledged that the risk of cardiovascular problems increases the longer a person is on the drug.

Merck's legal strategy underscores the need for those harmed by Vioxx to select aggressive trial lawyers to protect their legal rights. We encourage you to learn more about our Vioxx lawyers and how our firm can help you if you or a loved one suffered a heart attack or stroke while using Vioxx.

Merck Issues Vioxx Recall After Clinical Study Shows Increase in Heart Attacks, Strokes

Vioxx Lawyers

Merck & Co. conducted a clinical study involving 2,600 patients to determine whether Vioxx was effective in preventing colon cancer. Merck halted the study before its conclusion after it became clear that Vioxx increased the risk of heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems.

On August 26, 2004, just one month prior to the withdrawal, Merck released a press releasing contending that the drug was safe. The company said it stood behind the "overall safety and cardiovascular safety" of Vioxx. Merck attacked studies from other research groups that found a link between Vioxx and heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and other serious side effects.

More than 84 million have taken the drug worldwide and it is believed more than 2 million were taking the arthritis drug at the time of the recall. The widespread use was the result of an aggressive marketing campaign by Vioxx. Merck spent approximately $100 million per year promoting the dangerous drug. Most of this money was spent after researchers already had reported a link between Vioxx and heart problems.

The FDA has estimated that Vioxx may be responsible for as many as 27,000 heart attacks and cardiac deaths between 1999 and 2003. The FDA reached this number by analyzing a database of 1.4 million patients in the Kaiser Permanente health care system. That analysis also led to the finding that Vioxx users were more likely to suffer a heart attack or sudden cardiac death than those who took a competing drug.

The problems with Vioxx began before the drug was approved for sale in the United States. Pre-approval trials to determine the safety of the drug lasted less than 12 months, in spite of the fact that many people taking Vioxx for arthritis would use the drug for a much longer period of time.

Martin & Jones has represented hundreds of victims in legal claims against manufacturers of dangerous pharmaceuticals.

We encourage you to learn more about our Vioxx lawyers.

Vioxx News

Congress Launches Hearing Over Vioxx Withdrawal

Visit the Vioxx News page for the latest developments on Vioxx lawsuits.

On November 18, 2004, Congress began hearings intended to assess the FDA's decision not to recall Vioxx years before the drug finally was pulled from the market. Dr. Graham, the Associate Director for Science in the FDA's Office of Drug Safety testified that the agency is "incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx."

In alarming testimony, Dr. Graham estimated that Vioxx had caused between 88,000 and 139,000 cases of heart attack and stroke. These numbers are significantly greater than the 27,000 estimate announced by the FDA in October 2004.

During the hearing, one senator expressed concern that the FDA was "too cozy" with drug companies. Many policymakers believe an independent drug safety office should be created to review the safety of medications following FDA approval.

The fallout has extended beyond Merck and Vioxx. Our law firm is representing people harmed by Bextra, a prescription arthritis drug belonging to the same family of pharmaceuticals as Vioxx. The FDA forced a Bextra recall less than a year following the announcement of the Vioxx withdrawal.

We encourage you to learn how weakened FDA regulations harmed Vioxx patients.

The New York Times
Merck Agrees to Pay $4.85 Billion in Vioxx Claims
November 9, 2007

Reuters
Jury Awards $4.5 Million in Vioxx Verdict Against Merck
April 5, 2006

MarketWatch
After Vioxx Victory, Merck Faces Bigger Legal Test
February 21, 2006

MSNBC
Merck Wins Retrial of Federal Vioxx Lawsuit
February 18, 2006

Vioxx Lawyers

Current Lawsuits

Martin & Jones has been successfully representing injured men, women and children since 1982. We are proud to represent people from all walks of life, and the law firm has the experience and resources to aggressively do so, regardless of the size and resources of the offending company. We have a reputation for taking on tough, serious cases and have successfully represented individuals in claims against 30 of the 100 largest corporations in America.

With a wealth of experience acquired over the past two decades, Martin & Jones is committed to providing the highest standard of representation possible for our clients throughout the country. This commitment is reflected by the diverse and extensive experience of our lawyers and by the diligence of our law firm's staff of experienced paralegals, adjusters, legal assistants and other support personnel.