Health Alert! If You Take Vioxx - STOP NOW!

[Guest guest]

The prescription drug Vioxx has been recalled because of serious health

concerns. It is off the market as of today. If you or anyone you know

takes it - stop immediately!

 

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

Its The Great Pumpkin Progressive Basket 2

http://tinyurl.com/669fo

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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Merck Halts Vioxx Sales on Health Threats

 

http://start.earthlink.net/newsarticle?cat=0

<http://start.earthlink.net/newsarticle?cat=0 & aid=D85EA6F00_story>

& aid=D85EA6F00_story

 

 

September 30, 2004 07:22 PM EDT

 

 

 

TRENTON, N.J. - Merck & Co. is pulling its blockbuster Vioxx from the

market after new data found the arthritis drug doubled the risk of heart

attacks and strokes. Merck's stock plunged almost 27 percent as the

pharmaceutical giant said the recall will hurt its earnings.

 

Merck said Thursday the clinical trial data showed an increased risk of

heart attack and other cardiovascular complications 18 months after

patients started taking Vioxx, which also is prescribed for acute pain

and disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

The three-year study - aimed at showing that Vioxx could prevent the

recurrence of polyps, which can turn cancerous, in the colon and rectum

- was stopped after Merck discovered participants had double the risk of

a heart attack compared to those taking a placebo. During the study, 10

patients died, five who had been taking Vioxx and five who took dummy

pills.

 

" It's a disaster for Merck, coming at the worst time, " said independent

health care analyst Hemant Shah of HKS & Co. in Warren, N.J.

 

At least one plaintiffs' attorney announced plans for a class-action

lawsuit against Merck. Another claimed to represent 58 patients around

the country allegedly harmed by Vioxx, including people who suffered a

heart attack, stroke, internal bleeding or kidney failure.

 

Merck spokesman Tony Plohoros said the company anticipates additional

personal injury lawsuits over Vioxx may be filed and will defend them

vigorously.

 

About 2 million people worldwide use Vioxx, Merck said, and 84 million

prescriptions have been filled since it came on the market with great

fanfare in 1999. It is one of Merck's most important drugs, with $1.8

billion in U.S. sales in 2003 and global sales of $2.5 billion - 11

percent of the company's $22.49 billion in revenue that year.

 

But Vioxx sales dipped 18 percent in the second quarter of this year to

$653 million, partly due to increasing concerns about an elevated risk

of heart complications.

 

Medical experts advised patients Thursday to stop taking Vioxx and

consult their doctor about alternatives.

 

Merck said the recall will slash about 50 cents to 60 cents a share from

its earnings for the rest of this year. That includes foregone sales,

writeoffs of inventory held by Merck, customer returns of product

previously sold and other costs of the pullback. Merck expects foregone

fourth quarter sales of Vioxx of $700 million to $750 million alone.

 

Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., had previously been expecting

2004 earnings per share of $3.11 to $3.17.

 

" We're taking this action because we believe it best serves the interest

of patients, " Ray V. Gilmartin, Merck's chairman, president and chief

executive, said in a statement.

 

Plohoros said that because of the expected drop in revenues, Merck will

shift people who worked on Vioxx to other areas that would increase

revenues, but not all would find new jobs. He could not give an estimate

on job cuts, but said those affected would include scientists who have

been doing ongoing studies on Vioxx, sales and marketing staff and

manufacturing employees.

 

" We will not react to this event with short-term actions such as

decreased (research and development) spending, across-the-board job

reductions or actions like salary freezes that would destroy employee

morale, " Plohoros said.

 

Shares in Merck, one of the world's biggest drug makers, plunged $12.07,

nearly 27 percent, to close at $33 on the New York Stock Exchange. That

wiped out $28 billion in market value. More than 140 million shares were

traded, compared to a daily average below 10 million.

 

Shah said for Merck, the Vioxx withdrawal comes " at a time when they

really need to get ready for expiration " of its patent for Zocor, the

cholesterol treatment that is the company's top-selling drug.

 

Zocor loses patent protection early in 2006 and sales are expected to

plunge against generic competition. In an effort to replace those

revenues, Merck recently launched a drug with Schering-Plough Corp.,

Vytorin, that combines Zocor and Schering-Plough's Zetia to attack

cholesterol levels in two complementary ways.

 

The Vioxx recall stands to benefit Pfizer Inc., the world's biggest

drugmaker. Merck and Pfizer have been battling for market share, with

Pfizer's Celebrex arthritis drug dominating the market with about $2.6

billion in U.S. sales alone last year. Pfizer shares were up 35 cents to

$30.53 in afternoon trading on the NYSE.

 

Pfizer issued a statement Thursday citing the " outstanding long-term

safety profile " of Celebrex and saying that in a recent FDA-sponsored

study of 1.4 million patients, those who received Celebrex demonstrated

no increased risk of cardiac trouble.

 

Vioxx was labeled with a warning about heart risks in 2002 after Merck's

own study in 2000 uncovered the increased risk of heart attack and other

complications. The Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring

problems reported to it since then.

 

" This is not a total surprise, " said Dr. Steven Galson, acting director

of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

 

Dr. Steven Abramson, director of rheumatology at New York University

Hospital for Joint Diseases, said " there are very few patients for whom

there won't be a good alternative drug. "

 

Besides generic anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and

aspirin, those include Celebrex, which Abramson said has not been linked

to heart complications.

 

Celebrex and its successor drug, Bextra, as well as Vioxx and a

successor drug called Arcoxia that is awaiting FDA approval, are part of

a class of anti-inflammatory drugs touted by the pharmaceutical industry

as being more effective and having less side effects, particularly on

the gastrointestinal system, than older drugs.

 

Vioxx's removal will be a blow to hopes that it and other drugs in the

class known as COX-2 inhibitors could be used to prevent cancer in

people at high risk of developing it. A landmark study in 2002 showed

that small, daily doses of aspirin could prevent colon cancer, and

studies hinted that COX-2 inhibitors might do the same - possibly

without aspirin's side effects.

 

All COX-2 inhibitors can raise blood pressure, but Vioxx appears to be

the only one that's been linked to higher risk of heart attacks and

strokes, Galson said.

 

Merck is scheduled to release financial results for the third quarter,

which ends today, on Oct. 21.

 

---

 

On the Net: http://www.merck.com

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Christine

 

Thanks for forwarding that information.

 

> The prescription drug Vioxx has been recalled because of serious health

> concerns. It is off the market as of today. If you or anyone you know

> takes it - stop immediately!

 

I'd read this in an online newspaper this morning but only skimmed over it

and I was under the incorrect impression that it was only at the trial stage

and wasn't available widely. That will teach me to scrutinise things a

little more closely!

 

> Merck said Thursday the clinical trial data showed an increased risk of

> heart attack and other cardiovascular complications 18 months after

> patients started taking Vioxx, which also is prescribed for acute pain

> and disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

Does anyone know how long clinical trials are conducted before releasing new

drugs onto the market? If the drug was released in 1999, it makes no sense

that this data is only now being released.

 

Eighteen months isn't a long time for problems to be appearing, so if the

drug was released prior to those results being known surely it means our

regulatory agencies are failing us doesn't it?

 

Yet another fine example of the enormous clout the drug companies must have

in rushing a drug onto the market.

 

Vicki (being very sceptical today)

[Guest guest]

No idea but I was perscribed this drug for 2 years in the military to help

with my endometrosis... along with some other not so fun drugs... scary what

gets out with so little knowledge... I am waiting to hear more about the

anthrax and other injections we got in the military and the adverse

effects....

 

Judy Lynn

-

" Vicki Younger " <vicki

 

Friday, October 01, 2004 12:12 AM

RE: Health Alert! If You Take Vioxx - STOP NOW!

 

 

> Hi Christine

>

> Thanks for forwarding that information.

>

> > The prescription drug Vioxx has been recalled because of serious health

> > concerns. It is off the market as of today. If you or anyone you know

> > takes it - stop immediately!

>

> I'd read this in an online newspaper this morning but only skimmed over it

> and I was under the incorrect impression that it was only at the trial

stage

> and wasn't available widely. That will teach me to scrutinise things a

> little more closely!

>

> > Merck said Thursday the clinical trial data showed an increased risk of

> > heart attack and other cardiovascular complications 18 months after

> > patients started taking Vioxx, which also is prescribed for acute pain

> > and disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

>

> Does anyone know how long clinical trials are conducted before releasing

new

> drugs onto the market? If the drug was released in 1999, it makes no

sense

> that this data is only now being released.

>

> Eighteen months isn't a long time for problems to be appearing, so if the

> drug was released prior to those results being known surely it means our

> regulatory agencies are failing us doesn't it?

>

> Yet another fine example of the enormous clout the drug companies must

have

> in rushing a drug onto the market.

>

> Vicki (being very sceptical today)

>

>

>

>

> Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves:

http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html

>

> To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link:

/join

>

[Guest guest]

I was taking Vioxx for a couple of years for my arthritis until I lost my

coverage. Thought it was working great. I have enough health problems with

worrying about possible heart attack.

Paula ........in Michigan

Coming soon Farm Fresh Soaps & Candles

paula

 

-

Judy Hayes

Friday, October 01, 2004 3:30 AM

Re: Health Alert! If You Take Vioxx - STOP NOW!

 

 

 

No idea but I was perscribed this drug for 2 years in the military to help

with my endometrosis... along with some other not so fun drugs... scary what

gets out with so little knowledge... I am waiting to hear more about the

anthrax and other injections we got in the military and the adverse

effects....

 

Judy Lynn

-

" Vicki Younger " <vicki

Friday, October 01, 2004 12:12 AM

RE: Health Alert! If You Take Vioxx - STOP NOW!

 

 

> Hi Christine

>

> Thanks for forwarding that information.

>

> > The prescription drug Vioxx has been recalled because of serious health

> > concerns. It is off the market as of today. If you or anyone you know

> > takes it - stop immediately!

>

> I'd read this in an online newspaper this morning but only skimmed over it

> and I was under the incorrect impression that it was only at the trial

stage

> and wasn't available widely. That will teach me to scrutinise things a

> little more closely!

>

> > Merck said Thursday the clinical trial data showed an increased risk of

> > heart attack and other cardiovascular complications 18 months after

> > patients started taking Vioxx, which also is prescribed for acute pain

> > and disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

>

> Does anyone know how long clinical trials are conducted before releasing

new

> drugs onto the market? If the drug was released in 1999, it makes no

sense

> that this data is only now being released.

>

> Eighteen months isn't a long time for problems to be appearing, so if the

> drug was released prior to those results being known surely it means our

> regulatory agencies are failing us doesn't it?

>

> Yet another fine example of the enormous clout the drug companies must

have

> in rushing a drug onto the market.

>

> Vicki (being very sceptical today)

>

>

>

>

> Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves:

http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html

>

> To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link:

/join

>

[Guest guest]

After my car accident, they 'found' arthritis in my lower back.....

 

They gave me Vioxx.....samples....(at least I didn't PURCHASE a full

bottle!)

 

After taking 2 pills......I had problems with my intestines! YUCK! I will

spare you all of the gory details. LOL

 

I called the doc and told him, and he couldn't believe it. He said that was

the first time he'd heard of that......

 

Glad that I couldn't take the darn things......I have enough problems

without adding to them. Sheesh!

 

Candy in AL

[Guest guest]

Glad that I couldn't take the darn things......I have enough problems

without adding to them. Sheesh!

 

Candy in AL

 

Yeah I am glad too Candy. The doctor gave me an anitbiotic a few years ago and I

took two of them and had such a horrid reaction I thought I was going to die. I

wasnt able tog et out of bed for almost two weeks. When I told the doctor he

said " Gee I never heard of anyone having a reaction to it! " I then did some

research on it and discovered all the BAD things it would do to you. I will not

take antibiotics of any kind now.

 

Hugs

Neysa

 

 

[Guest guest]

No kidding, were glad too, that you couldn't stomach them...

 

Carol