Many of you have probably already seen this but I am gonna throw it right on the forum for everyone’s easy access.
Info on Merck from their wikipedia page:
"In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vioxx (known generically as rofecoxib), a Merck product for treating arthritis. Vioxx was stronger than existing medications, while easier on the stomach than established anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen. Vioxx became one of the most prescribed drugs in history. According to internal e-mail traffic released at a later lawsuit, Merck had a list of doctors critical of Vioxx to be “neutralised” or “discredited.” “We may need to seek them out and destroy them where they live,” wrote an employee. Also alleged were intimidation of researchers and impingement upon academic freedom.
On September 23, 2004, Merck received information about results from a clinical trial it was conducting that included findings of increased risk of heart attacks among Vioxx users who had been using the medication for over eighteen months.[14] On September 28, 2004, Merck notified the FDA that it was voluntarily withdrawing Vioxx from the market, and it publicly announced the withdrawal on September 30. The FDA has since recommended that Vioxx be put back on the market, but with a more prominent warning regarding cardiovascular risks on its label.
On November 5, 2004 the medical journal The Lancet published the results of its analysis of the available studies. It concluded that “the unacceptable cardiovascular risks of Vioxx (rofecoxib) were evident as early as 2000…”[15] The journal’s editors criticized Merck for having kept the drug on the market as long as it did before withdrawing it, and also criticized the FDA for its failure of regulatory oversight.
About 50,000 people have sued Merck claiming that they or their family members have suffered medical problems such as heart attacks or strokes after taking Vioxx.[16] In 2005, Merck was found liable in the first case that went to trial and the plaintiff was awarded $253.4 million in damages; however, the judgement was subsequently reduced to $20 million and then, upon appeal, the verdict was reversed in 2008.[16] In November 2007, Merck proposed to pay $4.85 billion to settle most of the pending Vioxx lawsuits.[17][18] The settlement will require that claimants provide medical proof of having suffered a heart attack or a stroke and show they received at least 30 Vioxx pills. This proposed settlement is generally viewed by industry analysts and investors as a victory for Merck, considering that original estimates of Merck’s liability reached as high as $50 billion. As of mid-2008, plaintiffs have prevailed in only three of the twenty cases that have reached juries, all with relatively small awards.[16]
On May 20, 2008, Merck was found liable for using deceptive marketing tactics to promote Vioxx and 30 states will split the $58 million settlement. The amount is the largest multi-state settlement against a pharmaceutical company.[19] All its new television pain-advertisements must be vetted by the Food and Drug Administration and changed or delayed upon request until 2018."
I think this just clearly shows you essentially the evil intents of this company which values its income statements more than its consumers health. Looking to discredit and alienate doctors who question their medications, even internal talk of silencing them.
What might be even more sad is the pathetic settlement of $4.85 billion when compared with the damage the drug did to people (and the amount of people) versus the monetary value of this company. It is a display of the American government failing to hold those responsible for crimes up to the justice they deserve. The FDA failed them and the courts failed them. This is what we are up against, a company whose total assets are valued in excess of $105 billion. A company who is so engrained into the American economy and health system that our own government agencys and courts who are ment to police such coorperations for their misdeeds were held in trepidition from preforming actions against them.
The FDA will drag their feet with this, and may never in fact do anything until scientists prove it on their own. The courts must have determined that the amount of money really due to the people who suffered was to great for Merck to bear and decided bank-rupting them would not be for the greater good. I believe a company with a such a track record as this deserves not only to be completely and utterly bankrupted and all their assets liquidated and paid out to those suffering, but I would more so lean toward what the Chinese do with coorperate leaders in their country who commit great misdeeds… you can figure that out on your own.
All we can wish for is justice to prevail for once.