Vioxx, the once popular arthritis drug pulled from the market in 2004, had health risks associated with it at least 4 years prior to its market withdrawal, according to findings published by the Archives of Internal Medicine. This new findings became known after lawsuits were filed against Vioxx manufacturer Merck. Vioxx has been associated with increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The authors of the newly published study noted that the public should have access to such clinical trials in order to make better decisions about their health. “Physicians and the public deserve to be in a position to make informed choices about risk and benefits (of pharmaceutical products),” the authors said.