|
|
Article: ARTHRITIS DRUG IS PULLED OFF MARKET VIOXX: HEART ATTACK RISK.(FRONT)
- Article from:
- The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)
- Article date:
- October 1, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Capital Newspapers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Linda A. Johnson Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. -- Vioxx, the blockbuster arthritis drug heavily promoted on TV and taken by tens of millions of people, was pulled from the market by its maker Thursday after a study found it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Experts advised patients to immediately stop taking Vioxx and talk to their doctors about alternatives.
"Given the availability of alternative therapies and the questions raised by the data, we concluded that a voluntary withdrawal is the responsible course to take," said Ray V. Gilmartin, chairman, president and chief executive of Merck & Co.
In Madison, ...