Spangenberg Vioxx® Attorneys Obtain Multi-Million Dollar Compensation

For most of the families and individuals who were injured by Vioxx, the long road of litigation is finally coming to an end. Final payments under the Global Settlement will be made in June 2010 and thereby turn the final pages on one of the deadliest chapters in the history of the United States pharmaceutical industry. While this is an important milestone for the victims who are receiving their just and long overdue compensation, a larger question remains—what are the lessons that we have learned from this debacle? Will it significantly change the way large pharmaceutical companies behave and conduct business in the U.S.? Will the FDA make the necessary commitment to pharmaceutical industry regulations and oversights that will keep Americans safe from dangerous, expensive, and over-promoted prescription drugs?

Vioxx® unlike Ibuprofen and Naproxen, significantly increased the risk of heart attack and stroke

Vioxx is a Cox-2 NSAID anti-inflammatory that was promoted to reduce pain from arthritis while minimizing the GI bleeding which can occur with popular over-the-counter NSAIDS like Ibuprofen and Naproxen. However, it was revealed that Vioxx, unlike Ibuprofen and Naproxen, significantly increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. The drug was taken off the market by the FDA in the fall of 2004. Years of litigation ensued over thousands of individuals who suffered strokes, heart attacks, and deaths caused by the drug.

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It is estimated that Vioxx® contributed to the death of over 27,000 people between 1999 and 2003

Vioxx was one of the first drugs that was heavily marketed directly to the end consumer. The goal behind Merck’s direct marketing strategy was to motivate the end consumer to demand Vioxx from their doctor. The strategy worked and Vioxx quickly became one of the most successful new drugs in the history of Merck, with 20 million people consuming almost 100 million prescriptions of the drug netting Merck gross sales of $2.5 billion per year. The average cost for one pill of Vioxx was approximately $4.00, while Naproxen and Ibuprofen cost about $.06-$.08 and Aspirin about $.03. Yet, it was never proven that Vioxx was more effective in relieving pain than those over-the-counter drugs. It is estimated that Vioxx contributed to the death of over 27,000 people between 1999 and 2003, according to one source at the FDA. After years of hard-fought litigation that included 18 trials, Merck and the Plaintiffs agreed to a Global Settlement of $4.85 billion. The final distribution of the settlement funds for those claimants participating in the Global Settlement will be made this June.

Spangenberg Lawyers Have Represented Vioxx® Clients Since 2004

The law firm of Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP has been actively involved in representing clients who were injured by Vioxx® since 2004. We were able to obtain millions of dollars of compensation for our clients through the Global Settlement. Spangenberg lawyers are also presently representing victims of the Bayer oral birth control drugs—Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella. Eerily similar to Vioxx, these drugs were heavily promoted to young women by Bayer through direct marketing to the end consumer. Mounting evidence is showing that women who took these drugs are suffering gallbladder disease, DVT, PE, stroke, MI, and death at an alarming rate.

Need Help Finding a Qualified Vioxx® Attorney to Help You?

Have you been injured because of Yaz, Yasmin, or Ocella? You can contact these two experienced Spangenberg Vioxx® attorneys, directly by clicking here Stuart E. Scott or Rhonda Baker Debevec.

Have questions about Vioxx® lawsuits? Click or Call 877-696-3303 for a free consultation.