Associated Press (AP) reported on June 16, 2006 that evidence came to light in one Vioxx lawsuit trial that showed Merck “neutralized” up to 36 doctors who had voiced concerns about Vioxx. According to internal documents, the company set up teams to essentially shut the doctors up. Later documents showed that this mission was accomplished by several means including handing out paid advisory board positions or offering participation in Merck research studies.The jury in the Vioxx lawsuit also saw a training video featuring what Merck called the “V Squad” This reportedly comical instructional guide was designed to help pharmaceutical reps overcome “sales obstacles” such as doctors’ apprehensions and questions about the drug’s safety.
It is clear that Merck had one focus in mind throughout the whole Vioxx journey to date: profit. If that profit came at the expense of the health of the patients they were supposed to be helping, then so be it. Internal Merck documents from as early as the mid-90’s showed that some scientists were worried about the cardiovascular side effects of Vioxx. One FDA scientist has claimed that he was pressured by his superiors to keep quiet about the research that showed up to a five-fold increase in heart attacks.
Other Merck documents came up in a past Vioxx lawsuit, including one indicating that the manufacturer at least considered reformulating the drug to reduce the cardiovascular risk. That never happened.
Now, AP reports, more news came to light in the same Vioxx lawsuit that revealed the neutralization of doctors. Merck had planned to conduct a study regarding the cardiac safety of Vioxx, but canceled its launch the day after Merck and the FDA agreed on adding cardiovascular risk into the fine print of the safety precautions. The former head of Merck’s U.S. marketing reportedly testified that he did not know of any connection between the two decisions, and that it was coincidental.
There have been 13,000 Vioxx lawsuits filed in courts around the country, and indications are that Merck plans to fight them all. Some medical experts claim that this move could be beneficial to the company since many of the claimants are older, had existing cardiovascular risk factors, or had other health problems that could explain the heart attacks. Juries, however, may not see it that way especially since research is indicating that these “high risk” patients never should have been given Vioxx in the first place - something the company knew (or should have known) but did not reveal to patients or their caregivers.
If you or a loved one has experienced cardiovascular problems including heart attack and stroke while taking Vioxx, contact Florida personal injury lawyer David I. Fuchs at 800-570-2858 for a free case evaluation.