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Vioxx Deaths

People who have been victimized by Vioxx deaths have the legal right to seek compensation for the losses related to the death of a loved one through a wrongful death personal injury lawsuit. Beneficiaries and dependants who have lost a family member because of fatal Vioxx side effects may be eligible to seek compensation for related medical expenses, loss of income, and psychological suffering.

Merck, the makers of Vioxx, have long known the risk of Vioxx deaths associated with their blockbuster pain medication but took years to respond to such risks in order to protect consumers. Vioxx is a COX-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat the pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual cramps, and other chronic pain conditions.

Merck voluntarily pulled Vioxx off the shelves on September 30, 2004 after clinical trials indicated that patients taking Vioxx for eighteen months were two times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than the general population. Merck recalled their blockbuster painkiller claiming that the risk of Vioxx deaths and other serious injuries outweighed the intended benefits of taking this medication. Since the Vioxx recall, experts have began evaluating patient records in order to determine how many patients have suffered serious injuries and Vioxx deaths.

The FDA estimates that at nearly one hundred million Vioxx prescriptions were sold between 1999 and 2003. Vioxx sales generated approximately $2.5 billion dollars in sales revenue each year that this popular painkiller was available on the market. A top scientist from the FDA has been responsible for estimating the number of Vioxx deaths that have occurred in the United States. In November 2004 the FDA estimated that the number of US Vioxx deaths totaled approximately 28,000 as a result of Vioxx-induced heart attacks and other fatal cardiovascular events.

The Financial Times reported in January 2005 that the total number of Vioxx deaths may have been underestimated in this original FDA report. The FDA now reportedly estimates that the total number of US Vioxx deaths may be between 89,000 and 140,000. This data has not yet been officially published by the federal government, though top FDA experts have publicly acknowledged these Vioxx deaths estimates. Worldwide Vioxx deaths are estimated to be between 150,000 and 200,000, though these estimates have not been confirmed officially.

For years Merck had denied concerns that Vioxx posed a great threat to patient's cardiovascular safety. Had they acknowledged these concerns as they developed, many Vioxx deaths might have been avoided. Hundreds of suits have already been filed on behalf of those that have suffered greatly as a result of Vioxx deaths. If a loved one has died as a result of cardiovascular complications while taking Vioxx, please contact us to speak with a qualified and professional attorney who can advise you of your legal rights and options in a wrongful death Vioxx lawsuit.

More Vioxx Resources

MedLine Plus Drug Information - Guide to prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia.

Vioxx.com - Official Vioxx Roxecofib site from Merck.

Vioxx Drug Warnings - Vioxx side effects information including lawsuit information and vioxx warnings.

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