Merck Vioxx News and Press Releases

Merck's Arcoxia painkiller may share side effects with Vioxx

Arcoxia is the successor drug to Merck's withdrawn Vioxx painkiller product, and it appears to have problems with heart conditions, according to federal regulators. Regulators believe that Arcoxia, like Vioxx, exacerbates heart problems. Arcoxia is a COX-2 inhibitor, a family of drugs that is coming under fire as links to heart conditions, strokes and even death become more well-defined. To learn more on this topic, be sure to also read the related article, Patients should demand full lifetime refunds on Vioxx, COX-2 inhibitors and other drugs.

- Staff writers

News summary:
Source: http://www.healthtalk.ca/Merck_Vioxx_successor_020605_39933.php

Arcoxia, Merck's successor to Vioxx appears to be worse than other painkillers when it comes to cardiovascular problems and deaths, according to documents released Friday by U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff reviewers. U.S. regulators based their initial findings on studies conducted by Merck that compared Arcoxia with placebo, naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

Arcoxia like Vioxx is part of a family of drugs called Cox-2 inhibitors.
The drugs were developed to reduce the incidence of GI bleeding while also providing effective pain relief for arthritis patients.
Merck voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market in September after a clinical trial showed it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Since September, the entire class of Cox-2 inhibitors, including Merck's Vioxx and Vioxx, have been linked to increased heart risks in various trials.

More than 700 class action lawsuits have been launched against Merck over heath risks associated with Vioxx since the drug was pulled from the market. Later this month, the FDA will hold a meeting of the agency's Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee to discuss the overall benefit-to-risk considerations for COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and related medicines. The outcome will likely determine the future of Cox-2 inhibitors in the US.
Some groups in the U.S. are pushing for a total ban on drugs once described as "super aspirin."

Novartis Painkiller Risk Similar To Vioxx

February 05, 2005 - In documents released on Friday, U.S. regulators said a clinical trial for Novartis AG's experimental painkiller Prexige showed the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths were similar to Merck's now withdrawn painliller Vioxx. The regulators said one Prexige study had findings "consistent with findings for Vioxx" heart risks compared with naproxen.

Later this month a Food and Drug Administration panel of outside experts will meet to discuss safety concerns over Cox-2 inhibitors. Depending on the panel's recommendations, Cox-2 inhibitors could be withdrawn because risks outweigh the benefits.

Merck withdrew Vioxx of the market last September after a clinical trial showed it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Currently, the only Cox-2 inhibitors remaining on the market in the U.S. are Pfizer's Celebrex and Bextra. Both have come under scrutiny due to clinical trials that indicated they may increases heart risks.

Local Man Files Lawsuit Against Makers Of Vioxx

POWHATAN POINT, OH - February 14, 2005 - A Powhatan Point man has filed a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of Vioxx.

In a complaint filed with the Belmont County Common Pleas, Thomas Bell alleges the drug may have led to a massive heart attack that killed his wife, Denise, last June. The lawsuit also claims Vioxx may have caused Bell to suffer a stroke that caused permanent physical injury.

The popular arthritis drug was pulled from the shelves when research showed the drug could cause an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Both Thomas Bell and his wife used Vioxx for more than a year to treat pain. The lawsuit claims they would not have used prescription Vioxx had the manufacturer been forthcoming about dangerous side effects. The plaintiff is asking for compensation for his injuries, the death of his wife and medical expenses. The lawsuit has been moved to federal court.

http://www.wtov9.com/news/4196643/detail.html

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