Vioxx Victims Receive Billions in Compensation
Vioxx, a well-known product defect, was a brand name used by Merck & Co., Inc. ("Merck") to market and distribute rofecoxib tablets, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prescription arthritis drug. Merck obtained FDA approval on Vioxx in approximately April 1999 via a New Drug Application on a fast-track, 6-month approval process. Merck began distribution and sale of Vioxx throughout the United States in approximately May 1999. Despite knowledge in its clinical trials and post-marketing reports associating Vioxx with hypertension and/or hypertension-related adverse health effects, Merck marketed and promoted Vioxx as safe and effective for persons with hypertension, or persons who had risk factors for stroke or cardiac problems.
On September 30, 2004 Merck removed Vioxx from the market in all countries because it was associated with heart attacks, stroke, cardiovascular injuries and other side effects. Merck removed Vioxx after an extended study showing that patients who used Vioxx doubled their risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular injury.
Vioxx Victims Receive Billions of Dollars
More than 60,000 claimants enrolled in the 4.85 billion dollar Vioxx product liability settlement program. Eligible claimants were those that had a filed a lawsuit as of November 9, 2007, alleging that they suffered a stroke or heart attack as a direct result of taking Vioxx. More than 44,000 of 47,000 eligible claimants enrolled in the program. In order for an eligible claimant to qualify for an initial payment if his or her claim is determined to be compensable, that Claimant must enroll his or her claim on or before February 29, 2008. Eligible claimants who enrolled as of February 29, 2008, have a 31-day grace period to submit to the Claims Administrator additional documentation, including properly executed releases and medical authorization forms. All eligible claimants must have enrolled before May 1, 2008, in order to participate in the Settlement Program.
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