Judge rules Merck are liable for Vioxx side effects
24/04/2006
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Jury Finds Merck Liable for Texas Man's Fatal Heart Attack
A Texan state jury has awarded compensation to the family of a 71-year-old man who suffered a fatal heart attack in 2001 after taking Vioxx for less than a month.
The April 21 verdict was reached on Friday 21 April by the ten man, two woman jury after about eight hours of deliberations over two days in the 229th Judicial District Court for Starr County.
The damages awarded to the family of Leonel Garza senior include compensation for mental anguish and personal loss, as well as punitive damages.
Vioxx Background
Merck pulled Vioxx, a $2.5 billion seller, from the market in September 2004 when a long-term study showed it could double risk of heart attack or stroke if taken for 18 months or longer.
Vioxx inhibits an enzyme known as Cox-2, which thins the blood. That feature allows it and other drugs in its class - Pfizer's Bextra and Celebrex - to relieve acute pain and arthritis without causing stomach bleeds or ulcers, as painkillers such as aspirin can.
An FDA panel concluded in February that Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra all pose heart risks but should be available to consumers. But in April, Pfizer withdrew Bextra from the market at the FDA's request when the agency said it carries risk of serious and sometimes fatal skin reactions in addition to heart attacks and strokes.
The FDA also said that all prescription non steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, not just Cox-2 inhibitors, should carry a so-called ''black box'' warning label about cardiovascular risk.
For further information on this story please contact Rachel Brown on 0161 925 5594.
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