SPECIFIC PRODUCTS
VIOXX CLAIMS
ONLINE VIOXX SOLICITORS UK
Serious concerns have arisen in regards to the safety of an arthritis pain killer and anti-inflammatory drug known as Rofecoxib or Vioxx Solicitors in the UK are currently assessing the possibility of a group legal action in order to issue proceedings against the American manufacturers, Merck, whose lawyers initially indicated that they will defend all legal action taken against them. The drug which was first marketed in the USA in 1999 was withdrawn following a press release by the Chief Executive Officer of Merck in September 2004 following clinical trials which showed that patients could suffer ‘an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or stroke’. Following the Vioxx recall Merck have now received several thousand lawsuits in the USA from patient groups claiming to have suffered a Vioxx heart attack. The first fatal case to come to trial in the USA has resulted in judgement being entered for a sum in excess of £100 million by a jury however this is subject to appeal and will almost certainly be reduced to a figure in the region of £10 million. It is believed by analysts that the total compensation bill in the USA alone could exceed $20,000,000,000. Concerns have also been raised about Celebrex which is a similar drug in the same class. The European Medicines Agency released a statement in February 2005 advising that patients taking similar painkillers should stop their treatment immediately due to dangerous side effects if they suffer from heart disease or stroke.
Over 400,000 patients in the UK have been prescribed this drug in order to treat rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis, fever and other conditions such as inflammation of the joints and menstrual pain. Lawyers in the UK are presently in the process of considering whether or not to effect "multi party action" and almost certainly will follow the position of the patients and patient groups in the USA. A “multi party action” allows multiple claims to be litigated efficiently at the same time and involves a group of people with the same injury caused by the same product taking court action together to claim damages. The Consumer Protection Act in 1987 makes manufacturers strictly liable to pay compensation following injury caused by one of their products and removes the necessity to prove negligence in order to claim damages in respect of items first supplied after the 1st of March 1988. If you have suffered as a result of taking this drug you need to urgently consult one of our online Vioxx solicitors for advice on how to take matters forward and how to protect your legal position.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) must be satisfied about a drugs safety prior to it going on sale and is required to take appropriate action upon adverse effects being discovered.
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