Vioxx Litigation - Mind Boggling Costs of Unsafe Drug (in money + lives) Mounts Up

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Julian Johnson
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Just saw some figures in relation to the Vioxx litigation in the US.  According to Bloomberg News, Merck + Co, the US manufacturer has now paid claims to the families of 3,468 users of Vioxx, who died of heart attacks or strokes, accepted as a result of the Vioxx medication.

Apparently a fund of $4.85 billion (US) has been established and made these payments.

It will be interesting to see the total costs of these claims in Australia, following our Federal Court's decision some months ago, finding the drug's importer to Australia was liable for breaches of the Trade Practices Act relating to the drug's fitness for purpose etc....  Strongly suspect these sorts of figures will never see the light of day...

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