NPR Series: Merck Found Liable for Death in First Vioxx Case https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4807807 A Texas jury finds drug maker Merck liable for the death of a man who took the company's painkiller Vioxx. Merck pulled the drug from the market last fall after a study linked it to heart attacks. The jury awarded his widow $253.4 million in damages in the first of thousands of pending lawsuits. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:54:20 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Merck Found Liable for Death in First Vioxx Case https://www.npr.org/series/4807807/merck-found-liable-for-death-in-first-vioxx-case Vioxx Legal Saga Just Beginning Pharmaceutical company Merck will appeal Friday's $253-million jury award in the death of a man who had taken the painkiller Vioxx. But thousands of cases await the company in state and federal court. Sun, 21 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/08/21/4809015/vioxx-legal-saga-just-beginning https://www.npr.org/2005/08/21/4809015/vioxx-legal-saga-just-beginning Pharmaceutical company Merck will appeal Friday's $253-million jury award in the death of a man who had taken the painkiller Vioxx. But thousands of cases await the company in state and federal court.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Jurors Discuss Decision in Vioxx Case The drugmaker Merck says it will appeal a Texas jury's verdict in a case involving the painkiller Vioxx. Jurors in Angleton, Texas, say the company's own documents prompted their $250 million damage award. Sat, 20 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/08/20/4808365/jurors-discuss-decision-in-vioxx-case https://www.npr.org/2005/08/20/4808365/jurors-discuss-decision-in-vioxx-case The drugmaker Merck says it will appeal a Texas jury's verdict in a case involving the painkiller Vioxx. Jurors in Angleton, Texas, say the company's own documents prompted their $250 million damage award.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Widow Awarded $250 Million in Vioxx Death Suit A Texas jury finds pharmaceutical giant Merck liable for the death of a man who took the painkiller Vioxx. The suit, one of thousands against the drug maker, was filed by the widow of a man who died of an irregular heart rhythm after taking Vioxx for less than a year. Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/08/19/4807634/widow-awarded-250-million-in-vioxx-death-suit https://www.npr.org/2005/08/19/4807634/widow-awarded-250-million-in-vioxx-death-suit A Texas jury finds pharmaceutical giant Merck liable for the death of a man who took the painkiller Vioxx. The suit, one of thousands against the drug maker, was filed by the widow of a man who died of an irregular heart rhythm after taking Vioxx for less than a year.

]]> Robert Siegel Jury Hears Final Arguments in Vioxx Case In Angleton, Texas, jurors begin deliberations in the first Vioxx-related case to come to trial. Merck pulled Voxx from the market last year after a study showed the painkiller caused heart attacks. Merck maintains Vioxx was the most-intensively studied painkiller ever designed. The case is being closely watched, because Merck faces more than 4,000 similar Vioxx lawsuits. Thu, 18 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/08/18/4804921/jury-hears-final-arguments-in-vioxx-case https://www.npr.org/2005/08/18/4804921/jury-hears-final-arguments-in-vioxx-case In Angleton, Texas, jurors begin deliberations in the first Vioxx-related case to come to trial. Merck pulled Voxx from the market last year after a study showed the painkiller caused heart attacks. Merck maintains Vioxx was the most-intensively studied painkiller ever designed. The case is being closely watched, because Merck faces more than 4,000 similar Vioxx lawsuits.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Vioxx Death Trial Begins in Texas The first case involving an alleged Vioxx-related death started in a Texas courtroom this week. Jurors heard the opening arguments from lawyers representing drug maker Merck and the family of 59-year-old personal trainer and marathon runner Robert Ernst. Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/07/14/4754599/vioxx-death-trial-begins-in-texas https://www.npr.org/2005/07/14/4754599/vioxx-death-trial-begins-in-texas The first case involving an alleged Vioxx-related death started in a Texas courtroom this week. Jurors heard the opening arguments from lawyers representing drug maker Merck and the family of 59-year-old personal trainer and marathon runner Robert Ernst.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Merck Attempted to Quash Vioxx Criticism Drug maker Merck attempted to censor critics of Vioxx as early as 2000, an investigation by NPR finds. That year, a study indicated that the painkiller might cause heart problems. The story raises larger issues about the role of pharmaceutical firms' funding of medical schools and independent doctors. Fri, 10 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/06/10/4697507/merck-attempted-to-quash-vioxx-criticism https://www.npr.org/2005/06/10/4697507/merck-attempted-to-quash-vioxx-criticism Drug maker Merck attempted to censor critics of Vioxx as early as 2000, an investigation by NPR finds. That year, a study indicated that the painkiller might cause heart problems. The story raises larger issues about the role of pharmaceutical firms' funding of medical schools and independent doctors.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Medical Schools and Drug Firm Dollars NPR surveyed medical schools to find out how much they depend on money from the drug industry. Thu, 09 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/06/09/4696316/medical-schools-and-drug-firm-dollars https://www.npr.org/2005/06/09/4696316/medical-schools-and-drug-firm-dollars

NPR surveyed medical schools to find out how much they depend on money from the drug industry.

]]> Joe Neel Part 2: Did Merck Try to Censor Vioxx Critics? NPR's story about Merck and its efforts to suppress safety concerns about the painkiller Vioxx continues with a look at how Merck exerted its influence in the world of top medical institutions. NPR's Snighda Prakash reports. Thu, 09 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/06/09/4696711/part-2-did-merck-try-to-censor-vioxx-critics https://www.npr.org/2005/06/09/4696711/part-2-did-merck-try-to-censor-vioxx-critics NPR's story about Merck and its efforts to suppress safety concerns about the painkiller Vioxx continues with a look at how Merck exerted its influence in the world of top medical institutions. NPR's Snighda Prakash reports.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Part 1: Documents Suggest Merck Tried to Censor Vioxx Critics Merck documents show that in 2000, the maker of Vioxx tried to censor critics of the drug's safety. That was the year that drug giant Merck learned that Vioxx might cause heart attacks and other problems. The documents show a concerted effort by the company to identify doctors who were raising questions about the drug's safety and to put pressure on them to stop making critical comments. A spokesman for Merck denies the allegations. Thu, 09 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/06/09/4696609/part-1-documents-suggest-merck-tried-to-censor-vioxx-critics https://www.npr.org/2005/06/09/4696609/part-1-documents-suggest-merck-tried-to-censor-vioxx-critics Merck documents show that in 2000, the maker of Vioxx tried to censor critics of the drug's safety. That was the year that drug giant Merck learned that Vioxx might cause heart attacks and other problems. The documents show a concerted effort by the company to identify doctors who were raising questions about the drug's safety and to put pressure on them to stop making critical comments. A spokesman for Merck denies the allegations.

]]> Snigdha Prakash Lack of Heart Trials Obscured Painkiller Risks Americans have recently learned that four popular painkillers -- Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra and naproxen -- have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In 2001, scientists called for heart safety tests for these painkillers, but the FDA lacked the authority to require such trials. Hear NPR's Snigdha Prakash. Thu, 23 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2004/12/23/4242209/lack-of-heart-trials-obscured-painkiller-risks https://www.npr.org/2004/12/23/4242209/lack-of-heart-trials-obscured-painkiller-risks Americans have recently learned that four popular painkillers -- Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra and naproxen -- have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In 2001, scientists called for heart safety tests for these painkillers, but the FDA lacked the authority to require such trials. Hear NPR's Snigdha Prakash.

]]> Snigdha Prakash