Vioxx
Lawsuit: News Updates
 Merck
Is Found Liable for Man's Death in Vioxx Trial
Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Merck & Co. must pay more than $253 million to
the family of a Texas man who died after taking the company's Vioxx
painkiller, a jury ruled in the first personal-injury case over the drug
to come to trial.
Jurors awarded $24.4 million in actual damages and $229 million in
punitive damages to the family of Robert Ernst. Merck will appeal,
spokesman Kent Jarrell said. The company's shares fell as much as 6.8
percent.
Read News Article
Chronology - Key events in the development of Vioxx
A timeline of the drug's history follows:
1998
*Nov. 1998 - Merck files an application with the FDA seeking U.S.
approval of Vioxx.
1999
Jan. 1999 - Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) trial
begins, aiming to show whether Vioxx causes fewer ulcers and other
gastrointestinal problems than a standard arthritis treatment called
naproxen.
*Feb. 1999 - Merck begins first clinical trial of Vioxx to see if it can
treat Alzheimer's disease. A second trial begins in April 2000.
May 20, 1999 - FDA approves Vioxx for the relief of osteoarthritis
symptoms, management of acute pain and primary dysmenorrhea, or painful
menstruation.
2000
March 2000 - Merck unveils data from Alzheimer's trials, which it said
showed no difference in heart problems between patients on Vioxx and
others taking a placebo.
June 2000 - Merck submits to the FDA final data from the VIGOR study,
which it said showed a decrease in gastrointestinal problems, but a
four-fold higher risk of heart attacks compared with naproxen.
2001
Feb. 2001 - FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee meets to discuss the
gastrointestinal VIGOR study.
2002
April 11, 2002 - FDA approves changes to Vioxx label which include
cardiovascular risks, gastrointestinal benefits and a new use to treat
rheumatoid arthritis.
2004
Sept. 27, 2004 - Merck tells the FDA a study to see if Vioxx could
prevent colon polyps showed twice the risk of heart attacks among
patients taking Vioxx for 18 months as those who took placebos.
Sept. 28, 2004 - FDA officials meet with Merck, which tells the agency
it will voluntarily withdraw Vioxx. Two days later Merck announces the
withdrawal.
Nov. 18, 2004 - Congress holds hearing on Merck and the FDA's handling
of the drug's safety issues.
2005
Aug. 19, 2005 - Merck is found negligent in the marketing and design of
Vioxx and is ordered to pay $229 million in punitive damages and $24
million for mental anguish and loss of companionship to the widow of the
Texas man.
Source: FDA
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than 30 staff-members. As one of the nation's premier pharmaceutical
liability law firms, we represent consumers nationwide who have been
victimized by defective pharmaceutical drugs. We have the experience to
protect your legal rights and to help you obtain the compensation you
deserve. If you or a loved one have suffered serious side effects from
the use of Vioxx, please contact
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If you have suffered
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because of Vioxx, we can assist you in
determining if you are entitled to receive
compensation for the harm caused to you. Time
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entitled. Such damages will likely include
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compensation to heirs (in the case of a wrongful
death). Our MedLaw Legal Team of experienced
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paralegals will review your situation and inform
you promptly as to whether we can assist you in
making a claim.
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