NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- All Cases Filed in Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County on September 28, 2005
Parker & Waichman, LLP (http://www.yourlawyer.com) announced it has filed 87 individual lawsuits against Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), on behalf of victims of Vioxx side effects. The plaintiffs' injuries include heart attack, stroke and other serious injuries associated with Vioxx usage. All 87 lawsuits were filed on September 28, 2005 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, with trials expected to begin in 2006. For more information on Vioxx side effects and to request a free case evaluation, please visit www.vioxxinfocenter.org or www.yourlawyer.com/practice/overview.htm?topic=Vioxx
Among the plaintiffs who recently filed their cases is one woman who suffered a stroke at the age of 45 after taking Vioxx for approximately four years, and another who suffered a stroke at the age of 48 after taking Vioxx for more than five years. Also among this group are two men, one of whom suffered a heart attack and the other a stroke, both at the age of 54, after taking Vioxx for less than one year.
On September 30, 2004, Merck & Co., Inc. announced the withdrawal of Vioxx, its blockbuster arthritis and pain relief drug, from the worldwide drug market after results from a major clinical trial sponsored by Merck indicated that Vioxx users have an increased risk of suffering heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular injuries. As early as 1997, Merck saw evidence that Vioxx posed cardiovascular risks. By 2000, the extent of the risks became clear when the VIGOR study revealed that the risk of myocardial infarctions or heart attacks was approximately 500% higher in patients receiving Vioxx compared to those receiving Naproxen. Merck & Co. downplayed the significance of these trial results and continued to aggressively market Vioxx to physicians and directly to consumers.
Parker & Waichman, LLP currently represents more than 1,000 victims of Vioxx. These plaintiffs have suffered serious cardiovascular injuries as a result of using Vioxx for pain management. Parker & Waichman, LLP began representing Vioxx victims in 2001, when the firm became an outspoken voice calling for the removal of the drug from the market. Today, Parker & Waichman, LLP continues to receive hundreds of inquiries from former Vioxx users, and the firm remains committed to seeking justice on their behalf.
Vioxx was approved by the FDA on May 20, 1999 for the management of acute pain in adults, and for relief of the signs and symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. On April 11, 2002, the FDA approved Vioxx for the treatment of pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, but also instructed Merck to include in its package insert certain precautions about a higher cumulative rate of serious cardiovascular injuries such as heart attacks, angina pectoris, and peripheral vascular events. Merck & Co. later received FDA approval for Vioxx for the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and migraine headaches. In 2003, Vioxx prescriptions totaled 19.9 million. The drug produced over $1.8 billion in U.S. sales in 2003 alone.
About Parker & Waichman, LLP
Parker & Waichman, LLP is a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs nationwide, with offices in New York and New Jersey. Parker & Waichman, LLP has assisted thousands of clients in receiving fair compensation for injuries resulting from defective medications and medical devices. For more information on Parker & Waichman, LLP please visit: (http://www.yourlawyer.com) or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).