Originally published December 11 2005
Vioxx deaths may be four times greater than expected
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
FDA official Dr. David Graham has indicated that new estimates place the number of Vioxx-related fatalities in the U.S. between 89,000 - 139,000 people, up from an earlier and more conservative estimate of 28,000.
Up to four times as many arthritis patients as previously estimated may have died or been harmed by the painkiller Vioxx, it has been claimed.
The drug regulator at the centre of a dispute over its safety has vowed to fight attempts to suppress claims that many thousands have died or been seriously injured as a result of taking the drug.
Vioxx was removed from the market by U.S. manufacturer Merck in September when research found that patients had more than twice the risk of cardiovascular problems after 18 months compared with those taking a "dummy" pill.
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The research by Dr David Graham, an official at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has sparked a debate over the entire class of painkillers known as Cox-2 inhibitors.
At the height of their popularity, Cox-2s were taken by around 1.4million Britons.
The research will also spur legal action over Vioxx - taken by 400,000 British patients - with around 100 Britons preparing to launch a group action in the High Court within weeks.
Dr Graham hopes his updated assessment will be published in The Lancet medical journal, even though he has been threatened with dismissal by the FDA for publishing any paper on the issue.
Around 20 class actions have started in the U.S. and analysts estimate the drug company faces a $ 15billion (�7.8billion) bill from U.S. claims alone.
The success of the action would depend on proving that the extra risk of harm posed by the drug had emerged before it was withdrawn, said Mr Day.
A spokesman for Merck said it had "meritorious" defences to any lawsuits and had acted in the "best interests of patient safety' throughout the period in which the drug was available.
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