Merck Ignored the Risk of Heart Attack with Vioxx for Four Years

For four years Merck turned a deaf ear to the research linking Vioxx to increased risk of heart attack, a large 35 percent increase in cardiovascular event or death. In 2002 Dr. David Graham testified that there was evidence that 88,000 to 139,000 people had suffered heart attacks as a side-effect of taking Vioxx. Thirty to 40 percent of those people died. That's possibly 55,000 people that died from using this drug!!! This was in 2002, and all Merck did at the time was change the label to suggest a possible risk of heart attack. Try VERY POSSIBLE!

Vioxx was put on the market in 1999. By the end of 2000 there were already strong indications that the drug significantly increased the risks of cardiovascular problems when 21 of the 30 tests had been completed. The drug was not pulled until 2004.

It is alleged that Merck had a list of doctors that were critical of Vioxx and planned to discredit them or "neutralize" them. Vioxx became one of the most prescribed drugs in history. It's sales reached almost $2 billion a year. Let's see, $2 billion multiplied by four years of keeping people in the dark and keeping the drug on the shelf equals roughly $8 billion. Wow, intimidation and greed really are common threads among these companies. If you will remember, Merck is also the company that was pushing Gardasil despite the lack of research and possible risks.

Click here for a list of other drugs marketed under Merck. Makes you question what is going on with these and which one will be next on the list of "oh yeah, and it might actually kill you."

Also, here you will see what Merck is posting on its website about the proceedings in Canada against Vioxx. Please be sure to scroll down to the part about "Today's Merck working for the world to be well." Well what about all the drugs you put on the market yesterday?