Australian Vioxx victims to seek heart attack compensation
Thousands of Australians who took the painkiller Vioxx and later suffered heart attacks are likely to join a class action against its manufacturer, Merck & Co, following a multibillion dollar settlement in the United States.
The company has agreed to pay $A 5.4 billion to 28,000 Vioxx victims in the US after abandoning its decision to fight every claim through the courts, but has warned potential Australian litigants that they will fight any compensation moves in this country.
Vioxx was regarded as a breakthrough for arthritis sufferers when it was released because it caused none of the usual gastric upsets often associated with anti-inflammatories. The painkiller was on sale in Australia from 1999 and was added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2001.
But it was withdrawn by Merck from sale in September 2004, after researchers confirmed it had doubled the risk for patients of heart attacks and strokes. Nearly 10 million prescriptions were written and more than 300,000 people took Vioxx in an attempt to reduce the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
About 1,000 claimants have joined a Federal Court class action against Merck & Co and local distributor, Merck Sharp Dohme Australia. Slater & Gordon lawyer, James Higgins, believes that thousands more would join the class action and that Merck would feel ongoing pressure to take part in mediation talks. People wishing to join the action should phone 1800 555777 or contact www.slatergordon.com.au.
