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. |
 |
A stroke is a cardiovascular
disease that results when the arteries leading to the brain
are either blocked by a clot or burst. When the brain does
not receive adequate amounts of blood and oxygen, it will begin
to die.
The effects of the damage to the brain are significant.
As the brain begins to die, the patient can suffer a stroke
causing paralysis, speech impairments, and vision problems.
|