The Food and Drug Administration has concluded that more than 27,000 deaths could be attributed to Vioxx, based on comparisons with the histories of patients taking other painkillers.  The study, based on a sample of patient records, concluded that people taking Vioxx were more likely to have heart attacks or die from sudden cardiac arrest than people taking a competing painkiller, Celebrex from Pfizer. Some experts believe that the drug may have been over-prescribed because it was advertised too heavily directly to consumers who pushed their doctors in prescribing it to them.  Committees in the United States House and Senate are investigating the F.D.A.'s handling of those issues. More hearings are expected. 

Investment bank Merrill Lynch says Merck's Vioxx liability could be as high as US$18 billion, based on an estimated 51,000 potentially successful lawsuits by patients claiming heart attacks or strokes.  Latest estimates put the number of lawsuits at over 100,000 and Vioxx liabilities at $38 billion.

What should you do?

• Read our article on evaluate your options if you or anyone in your family may have taken Vioxx (if you are not sure that you took Vioxx but have had pain, you must consult your doctor).
• Research the law firms (the number of law firms that are willing to help you in Vioxx injury cases is slowly growing) and make a short list of the firms that you would like to find out more about. Contact them and then pick one with which you find the best fit and work with them going forward.

Announcement:  Latest news related to Vioxx is available in the MYNIPPON news center focused on Vioxx recall