TORONTO, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ - Lawyers representing Canadians who used
the popular arthritis and pain-killer drug VIOXX today announced that a
national class action has been launched for those VIOXX users who suffered
from cardiovascular complications including heart attack and stroke.
    Two Vioxx users, who each sustained massive heart attacks that required
surgical intervention following their ingestion of Vioxx, have agreed to act
as representative plaintiffs. A statement of claim has been issued in the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking a National Class Action. Four other
class actions have been commenced in Quebec, together with claims in British
Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan within the past week.
    VIOXX was withdrawn from the worldwide market September 30, 2004,
following continuing reports and studies that found patients using VIOXX faced
a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular complications, including heart
attack, stroke, angina, blood clots and congestive heart failure.
    Launched in Canada in October 1999, in 2000 reports surfaced linking the
drug to an alarming series of associated complications, including increased
risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications, as well as liver
damage, kidney damage and lack of bone healing. The substantial increased risk
of cardiovascular disease among VIOXX users was made know to Merck in the 2000
study entitled: "VIOXX Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research" (VIGOR) study,
however, the company continued to market the drug.
    Mary Jane McNicholl, a Toronto heart attack victim and one of the
representative Plaintiffs, stated: "I am simply astonished that in this day
and age this drug company kept selling the drug making huge profits even when
they knew of the serious increased risk of heart attack and stroke. This kind
of thing should not be permitted in Canada."
    James Venables, a Calgary resident and heart attack victim said "Other
drug companies must be forced to be more conscientious to make sure they
thoroughly test all drugs before they are released for human consumption and
after they are released - look at devastating results when the companies don't
act responsibly. It ruins lives." He added: "US residents were warned by the
FDA. Why didn't Health Canada warn Canadians about the potentially devastating
side effects of this drug?"
    In 2003 IMS Health reported that there were over 3.4 million
prescriptions for VIOXX in Canada last year, making it the 10th most
prescribed drug in the country. It is estimated that over 700,000 Canadians
have taken the drug to alleviate arthritis, acute pain and severe menstrual
pain.
    Merck is the world's third largest drug maker. VIOXX accounted for
$2.5 billion in sales in 2003. More than 2 million people take VIOXX
worldwide. This is believed to be the largest voluntary drug recall in
history.
    The national class is represented by the Toronto law firm of Rochon
Genova LLP, a class-action firm well known for its leading role in
pharmaceutical class actions, including cases involving diet drugs, Baycol,
Prepulsid, Serzone and others.

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