Merck submits an application to the Food & Drug Administration
seeking approval for Vioxx. Merck says rates of cardiovascular
risk were "similar" among patients taking
Vioxx, placebo, or other pain relievers.
January 1999
Merck begins the Vigor trial designed to test the
gastrointestinal impact of taking Vioxx.
May
1999
Vioxx is approved by the FDA.
February 2000
Merck starts the Approve trial designed to see if
Vioxx reduces colon polyps.
March 2000
Merck reveals that a safety study found Vioxx patients had
double the rate of serious cardiovascular problems compared to
those taking naproxen.
February 2001
An advisory panel with the FDA recommends the agency require a
warning label informing patients of the possible link to heart
attacks and strokes.
September 2001
The FDA warns Merck & Co. for making misleading claims to
doctors about the safety of the drug.
April 2002
The FDA requires that Merck & Co. add a warning on the label
about cardiovascular problems.
August 2004
FDA announces results of study that found Vioxx users more
likely to suffer a heart attack or sudden cardiac death than
those taking Celebrex.
September 23,
2004
The independent safety monitoring board for the Approve trial
recommends that
Merck end the trial because of results showing that long-term
use of Vioxx -- more than 18 months -- increases the risk of
heart attacks or strokes, compared with patients who took a
placebo.
September 30,
2004
Merck & Co. withdraws Vioxx.
November 18,
2004
Merck reveals that its handling of Vioxx is being investigated
by the Justice Department and by the Securities & Exchange
Commission.
December 23,
2004
The FDA issues a public health advisory urging doctors to
carefully weigh the risks in prescribing medications for
arthritis and pain.
February 18, 2005
An FDA advisory panel votes 17-15 that Vioxx could be returned
to the U.S. market under certain circumstances and restrictions.
The advisory panel also recommends that Bextra remain on the
market. The panel supports Celebrex by a 31-1 vote. Merck says
it hasn't decided if it will return Vioxx to the U.S. market, a
remark that it has repeated often.
June 30, 2005
The State of Texas files suit against Merck for misrepresentation in order to
get Vioxx approved for Medicaid patients.
April 7, 2005: At the urging of the FDA, Pfizer suspends
sales of Bextra. Pfizer disagrees with the FDA's recommendation,
and it continues talking to the agency about how the drug can be
returned to the market. The FDA also requires tougher labels on
Celebrex, on all other prescription pain relievers and on all
over-the-counter pain pills to warn against cardiovascular risk.
July 2005
Federal Judge Eldon D. Fallon holds a pre-trial conference regarding
approximately 1100 Vioxx cases, which have been consolidated into the U.S.
Eastern District Court of Louisiana in New Orleans. Judge Fallon states the
first of those Vioxx cases may be ready for trial in November 2005.
July 2005
The first Vioxx trial in the country begins in state district court in Angleton,
Texas.
August 19, 2005
The jury in the Vioxx trial returns a verdict of $253,400,000. Merck says it
will appeal. The mandatory Texas caps on damage awards mean the
plaintiff will receive only about 10% of the total verdict, at a
maximum.
Robert
A. Kraft
Vioxx
®
Safety Alert!
Contact Us
Today For a Free Consultation
We are Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra lawyers. Call us if you or a loved one has
taken the arthritis drugs Vioxx, Celebrex or Bextra. You may have an increased
risk of heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event.
Whatever legal problem you may have, our Vioxx
attorneys, Celebrex lawyers and Bextra lawyers want to help you. You can see us for free. Please
call us now. You may be entitled to compensation for your
injuries.
Our law firm can assist you in making a claim under these circumstances:
You took Vioxx 25mg or more daily on a continuous basis for at least 18 months,
even if you did not suffer any noticeable symptoms, or
You suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event after you had been taking Vioxx for
any length of time at all.
To get more information about the ways we can help you with your Vioxx
claim, click on Submit Your Claim at the left side of this page, or send an
e-mail to info@kraftlaw.com, or just pick
up your phone and call us at (800) 989-9999. There will be absolutely no charge or obligation for a consultation with our
firm.
If you have taken Vioxx for less than 18 months, and you have not had a
heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event, we will probably not be able to assist you, but we
very strongly
encourage you to contact your physician immediately.
In The Public Interest: Even if you are not considering making a legal claim for
exposure to Vioxx, we strongly urge you to contact your
doctor if you have taken this medication. Your doctor will
be able to explain any risk of cardiovascular injury, and
will be able to advise you on the proper medical course of
action.
If you are considering making a legal claim, your rights and
obligations will vary depending on many different factors.
You should act promptly in getting advice from a lawyer so
you will fully understand your rights and be in a better
position to protect them. At Kraft and Associates, we
provide this initial advice without charge or further
obligation.
August 19, 2005 -- The
jury in the nation's
first Vioxx lawsuit, in
Angleton, Texas,
returned a verdict of
$253.4 million in
damages against the
defendant, Merck, Inc.
Texas has arbitrary caps
on damages, and the
plaintiff widow will not
receive this much money,
even if the case is
upheld on appeal, but
this is a great victory
for the plaintiff
against the manufacturer
of a dangerous drug.
The jury awarded
$450,000 in economic
damages for the
projected lost earnings
of the deceased, $24
million for mental
anguish and loss of
companionship, and $229
million in punitive
damages.
Under Texas law, as
applied to this
particular case,
punitive damages are
arbitrarily capped at
two times the amount of
economic damages, plus
$750,000. Therefore the
widow was actually
awarded $1.65 million,
in addition to the $24
million in mental
anguish. Texas appellate
courts are notorious for
reducing the amounts of
jury awards, so even
though the jury awarded
$253.4 million, it's
possible the widow will
end up with less than
10% of that amount.
Plus, there is always
the possibility that an
appellate court will
overturn the verdict
entirely.
Kraft &
Associates can help you with any pharmaceutical claim.
Our Texas personal
injury lawyers
can help you if you live anywhere in
Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San
Antonio, Abilene, Amarillo, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus
Christi, El Paso, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, Texarkana,
Tyler, Waco, Wichita Falls or any other city in Texas. There is
no charge to contact our attorneys for a free evaluation of your
claim.
Kraft & Associates, P.C.
maintains offices in Dallas, Texas. We serve all areas of North Texas,
including Dallas County, Tarrant County, Denton County and the cities of
Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Garland, Mesquite,
Richardson, Plano, Frisco, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Lewisville, Hurst,
Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Coppell, Colleyville, Duncanville, DeSoto,
Cedar Hill, Lancaster and Rockwall. We also accept cases throughout Texas,
including
Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Tyler, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock, Amarillo,
Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Beaumont, Abilene, Wichita Falls, Laredo,
Midland, Odessa, Texarkana or any other city in Texas.
Cases may be referred to other attorneys. Vioxx is a registered
trademark of Merck and Company, Inc.
®
Please read this
Legal
Mumbo Jumbo before acting on any information contained in this Web
site.
Click here for a
Map to our office or call us at (214) 999-9999 for driving directions.
All questions concerning this Web page should be directed to
Robert Kraft. The attorney
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Bar Rules is Robert Kraft.
