Local Attorney Impacted by Vioxx

October 7, 2004

PALM BEACH GARDENS Fla. Edward Ricci, the 59 year old senior partner in the law firm of Ricci~Leopold was prescribed Vioxx for painful bone spurs in his foot.  The medication seemed to control the condition.  Recently, Ricci experienced pain across his pectoral muscles after a strenuous workout at the gym.  He wrote it off to the exercise and moved on, but on September 30, 2004 , Ricci and countless others like him learned for the first time that Merck the manufacturer of Vioxx was withdrawing the anti-inflammatory drug from the market worldwide.  Merck advised doctors and patients that Vioxx was a likely cause of heart attacks and strokes in some patients.  The company had been conducting a three year randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Vioxx 25 milligrams in preventing occurrences of colorectal polyps.  However 18 months into the project the company discovered that there was a substantial increased risk for confirmed heart attacks and strokes.

Vioxx was launched in the U.S. in 1999 and has been marketed in more than 80 countries around the world.  Outside the U.S. it is sometimes marketed under the name of Ceoxx.  Annual sales worldwide for this one medication exceed $2.5 billion a year.

“I was stunned when I learned of the recall last week,” Ricci said.  “I stopped taking the drug immediately.  When I got into the office, the phone was ringing off the hook from people who had been seriously impacted from its prolonged use,” he added. 

In March 2000 a released study showed that the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity with Vioxx was less than Naproxen but there was an increased risk of cardio vascular events with Vioxx which Naproxen apparently did not show.  Merck claims that at that time it began long term randomized clinical trials to develop a more comprehensive data on the drug’s effects.

Vioxx risk likely known before drug is withdrawn from market (2)

“We are looking into the Vioxx history.  I’m shocked Merck would allow the drug to stay on the market so long,” Ricci said.  “Merck is trying to appear as a compassionate and caring corporation concerned with the public’s health and safety but the history of Vioxx seems to be very checkered.  After the early randomized trials published nearly four years ago, it should have been obvious that Vioxx was causing a four to five fold increase in heart attacks and strokes.  Yet Merck continued to rake in over ten billion in profits without giving any warning to consumers,” he added.  Finally, in 2001, Merck received a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because the company’s advertising failed to mention anywhere that it carried with it an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.  “Several members of my firm and myself had been taking Vioxx without having been provided any warnings of its side effects.  The withdrawal last week was really shocking, Ricci added.

“We are receiving calls every day from attorneys and clients who have been prescribed Vioxx and who have suffered heart attacks and strokes.  We will see where all of this leads but most certainly there are many individuals who have serious claims.  We urge anyone that has been taking Vioxx to consult their physician without delay,” Ricci concluded.  

Edward Ricci and Theodore (Ted) Leopold are partners in the law firm of Ricci~Leopold, P.A.  The firm founded in 1982, has five attorneys and is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with offices located at 2925 PGA Blvd. Mr. Ricci and Mr. Leopold can be contacted at 561-684-6500.  Additional information may be obtained from the firm’s website at www.riccilaw.com

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Information contact:
Kyle Zimmer, WPO/PR – 561-626-0026, ext. 17
Or Kim Sailer , Ricci Leopold – 561-684-6500

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