How big a "blockbuster" was Vioxx for Merck?

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Oct. 1, 2004 - In response to some inaccuracies reported yesterday, Merck & Co., Inc. today clarified the number of patients in the United States who were prescribed and have taken VIOXX? (rofecoxib), its arthritis and acute pain medication that it withdrew voluntarily yesterday.

Merck estimates that there were 105 million U.S. prescriptions written for VIOXX from May 1999 through August 2004. Based on this estimate, Merck estimates that the number of patients who have taken VIOXX in the United States since its 1999 launch is approximately 20 million. The number of patients outside the United States is undetermined at this time. Merck emphasizes, however, that these are all approximate numbers.