Beasley Allen Calls Upon Merck to Leave Vioxx Off the Market

An FDA advisory panel voted today (17-16) that Vioxx could be placed back on the market. Merck officials have recently stated that they would consider re-introducing the controversial painkiller to the market based on the FDA panel findings. Beasley Allen has been watching the situation unfold over the past 4 years. We feel that Merck finally did the right thing in September by withdrawing Vioxx from the market, and to reintroduce the drug now would most certainly result in further cardiovascular injuries, including death. The fact that Merck is even considering putting the pain medication back on the market clearly shows their motives to put profits above people. When Merck & Co. pulled Vioxx from the market in September, it said it was acting because a clinical trial had shown that users were at increased risk of heart attacks or strokes. Until it pulled the drug last September, Merck defended the painkiller as safe. Several studies have shown a direct link between Vioxx and increased cardiovascular risk. According to an internal study conducted by FDA scientist Dr. David Graham, up to 140,000 people may have suffered heart attacks as a direct result of taking the pain medication. And millions of people may have been exposed unnecessarily to the risk of heart attack by taking Cox-2 inhibitor drugs, including Vioxx.