Medical News Summary: Vioxx lawsuits to be filed in Britain

About: Vioxx lawsuits to be filed in Britain
Date: 24 November 2004
Source: The Guardian
Author: Clare Dyer
Medical News Summary (summary of medical news story as reported by The Guardian): Two British law firms set to launch compensation claims for victims of the Vioxx scandal in Britain rather than in the US. So far, there are 50 potential claimants in Britain with more expected. Over 300 law suits have been launched in the US. Vioxx was withdrawn from the market after long term research indicated that the drug could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke if used for more than 18 months. Vioxx was used to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and pain. It claimed to have fewer side effects such as stomach bleeding and other gastrointestinal problems compared to its competitors. The manufacturer, Merck, is facing a huge financial burden after it was revealed that they were aware of the risks of taking the drug years ago. It was also relieved that the risk increased even if the drug was only used for several months. An estimated 80 million people have used Vioxx since it was released and it is believed to have been a factor in about 28,000 heart attacks in the US in 1999-03.
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1358009,00.html
Related Disease Topics: Heart attack, Stroke, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Stomach bleeding (type of Gastrointestinal bleeding), Gastrointestinal problems

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Related Medical News Channels: This medical news summary article refers to the following medical channel categories:

• Side effects
• Side effects and stomach bleeding
• Side effects and gastrointestinal problems
• medication and heart attack
• medication and stroke
• medication and osteoarthritis
• medication and rheumatoid arthritis
• medication and pain
• medication and stomach bleeding
• medication and gastrointestinal problems
• medical malpractice and heart attack
• medical malpractice and stroke
• medical malpractice and osteoarthritis
• medical malpractice and rheumatoid arthritis
• medical malpractice and pain
• medical malpractice and stomach bleeding
• Medical malpractice and gastrointestinal problems
• cause of heart attack
• death from heart attack
• cause of stroke
• death from stroke
• cause of stomach bleeding
• cause of gastrointestinal problems

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