Viles & Beckman, P.A. File Vioxx Class Action In Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Viles & Beckman, P.A. filed a class action lawsuit yesterday challenging Merck & Co., Inc., the manufacturer of Vioxx. Their filing alleges that Vioxx's approval by the FDA in April, 1999 may have been based solely on information provided by Merck. The pharmaceutical company failed to reveal the potential dangers of Vioxx in its marketing.

The pills were on a fast-track, 6-month approval process in order to remain competitive with other anti-inflammatory drugs just entering the market. Not long after Vioxx was released, Merck started getting warning letters from the FDA.

One letter from the FDA, dated November 17, 2001, charged that Merck had "engaged in a promotional campaign for Vioxx that minimizes the potentially serious cardiovascular findings that were observed in the Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) study and, thus, misrepresents the safety profile for Vioxx. Specifically, [Merck's] promotional campaign discounts the fact that in the VIGOR study, patients on Vioxx were observed to have a four- to five-fold increase in myocardial infarctions."

The class action asks Merck for free ongoing health monitoring and care for those who have taken Vioxx, in addition to monetary compensation for medical bills, punitive damages, and pain and suffering. Those seeking compensation for their injuries or refunds for their prescriptions can contact Viles & Beckman, P.A. at 1-800-648-4537.

About Viles & Beckman, P.A.

Viles & Beckman, P.A. has taken pride in making corporations accountable for their actions. Viles & Beckman, P.A. was the first law firm in the U.S. to file a class action suit against the manufacturers of the diet drug Phen- Fen. Viles & Beckman, P.A. helped lead the successful effort to recall defective tires in the Ford/Firestone class action and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Good Morning America and CBS Evening News. We have also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and other publications. Viles & Beckman, P.A. has been nationally recognized for their extensive work towards defending the rights of the consumer and demand that goliath companies take responsibility for their actions. They hope to promote corporate accountability and to protect the rights of consumers worldwide.

CONTACT: Angelique Viles or Michael Fallon, both of Viles & Beckman,P.A., +1-239-334-3933