New York Vioxx Side Effects Lawyers

If you or a loved one has taken the prescription drug Vioxx, you should seek medical attention right away and discontinue use of the drug. If you have experienced any of the serious side effects associated with Vioxx, such as a stroke or heart attack you should hire a Vioxx lawyer from Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro to represent your case. Our New York personal injury firm was established in 1990, and has recovered millions of dollars for our seriously injured clients throughout New York. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of our injured clients and have the legal expertise to represent even the most challenging cases. Call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro today to discuss your Vioxx case with one of our experienced New York Vioxx lawyers.

VIOXX IN THE NEWS

Journal Runs Correction on Vioxx

By Denise Gellene, Times Staff Writer
June 27, 2006

The withdrawn painkiller Vioxx could cause heart problems for patients taking it for less than 18 months, according to a correction in the New England Journal of Medicine that disputes the company's contention that the drug was safe when taken for a short time.

The journal said the original statistical analysis of a March 2005 study was incorrect and it was uncertain how long the drug could be safely taken before patients incurred an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

Click here to read the entire story.

Click here to read the report by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Cardiologist says Vioxx still a risk after stopping

By Bill Berkrot
Fri May 12, 2006

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A leading cardiologist on Friday disputed Merck & Co's interpretation on the safety of patients once they stop taking Vioxx, saying they remained at high risk of heart attacks or strokes for some time afterward.

Dr Steven Nissen, interim chairman of cardiology at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, said Merck misrepresented an analysis of data from a follow-up review of patients involved in the trial that led to the pain medication being pulled from the market.

Click here to read the entire story.

FDA Public Health Advisory - Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Products (NSAIDS)
FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research - December 23, 2004

The FDA is issuing a public health advisory concerning use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug products (NSAIDS) including those known as COX-2 selective agents.

Recently released data from controlled clinical trials showing that the COX-2 selective agents (Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra) may be associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) especially when they are used for long periods of time or in very high risk settings (immediately after heart surgery).

Click here to read the entire advisory.

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory Recommending Limited Use of Cox-2 Inhibitors - Agency Requires Evaluation of Prevention Studies Involving Cox-2 Selective Agents
FDA Talk Paper - December 23, 2004

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a Public Health Advisory summarizing the agency's recent recommendations concerning the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug products (NSAIDs), including those known as COX-2 selective agents. The public health advisory is an interim measure, pending further review of data that continue to be collected.

In addition, FDA today announced that it is requiring evaluation of all prevention studies that involve the Cox-2 selective agents Celebrex (celecoxib) and Bextra (valdecoxib) to ensure that adequate precautions are implemented in the studies and that local Institutional Review Boards reevaluate them in light of the new evidence that these drugs may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. A prevention trial is one in which healthy people are given medicine to prevent a disease or condition (such as colon polyps or Alzheimer's disease).

Click here to read the entire paper.

Statement of Sandra Kweder, M.D., Deputy Director, Office of New Drugs at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA
before Committee on Finance, United States Senate - November 18, 2004

Modern drugs provide unmistakable and significant health benefits. It is well recognized that FDA's drug review is a gold standard. Indeed, we believe that FDA maintains the highest worldwide standards for drug approval. FDA grants approval to drugs after a sponsor demonstrates that they are safe and effective. Experience has shown that the full magnitude of some potential risks do not always emerge during the mandatory clinical trials conducted before approval to evaluate these products for safety and effectiveness. Occasionally, serious adverse effects are identified after approval either in post-marketing clinical trials or through spontaneous reporting of adverse events. That is why Congress has supported and FDA has created a strong post-market drug safety program designed to assess adverse events identified after approval for all of the medical products it regulates as a complement to the pre-market safety reviews required for approval of prescription drugs in the United States. Monitoring the drug safety of marketed products requires close collaboration between our clinical reviewers and drug safety staff to evaluate and respond to adverse events identified in ongoing clinical trials or reported to us by physicians and their patients. The most recent actions concerning the drug Vioxx (rofecoxib) illustrates the vital importance of the ongoing assessment of the safety of a product once it is in widespread use.

Click here to read the entire statement.

Merck Revises Number of Vioxx Prescriptions
By Karen M. Lee - Dow Jones Newswires - October 1, 2004

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. - (Dow Jones) - Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) (MRK) clarified the number of patients and prescriptions in the U.S. for its arthritis pain drug Vioxx in response to inaccuracies reported on Thursday.

Click here to read the entire story.

Pulling arthritis drug Vioxx increases on Merck & Co.
By Theresa Agovino and Jeffrey Gold, AP - October 1, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) - The stunning news that Merck & Co. is withdrawing its pain reliever Vioxx from the market because of health risks is the latest in a series of blows to what only a few years ago was the world's largest drugmaker and the envy of the industry for its research and development prowess.

Click here to read the entire story.

Merck halts Vioxx sales
By Rita Rubin - USA Today - October 1, 2004

The maker of blockbuster pain reliever Vioxx said Thursday that it is voluntarily withdrawing the drug because of new data showing it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

This is one of the largest - ever withdrawals of a drug, says the Food and Drug Administration's Steven Galson.

Click here to read the entire story.

Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug Vioxx from Market
All Things Considered - NPR - September 30, 2004

Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is pulling its arthritis drug Vioxx from the market after a study confirmed earlier concerns that it raises the risk of heart problems, including heart attacks and stroke. Vioxx is currently used by 2 million people worldwide and has been used by more than 84 million people around the world, according to Merck.

Click here to read the entire story.

If you or a loved one has taken Vioxx and suffered any of the serious side effects associated with the drug, call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro today for a free consultation with an experienced New York Vioxx Attorney.