Merck- All Cox-2 drugs like Vioxx may cause health risks

Also Wednesday, it was announced that Vioxx lawsuits will be handled in Louisiana. ~ The Associated Press

A Merck & Co. official said Wednesday that all painkillers in the same class as the company's Vioxx may cause heart problems or strokes, a change from the drug-maker's earlier position that such health issues appeared limited to its drug.

Dr. Ned S. Braunstein, senior director of Merck Research Laboratories, told two panels of Food and Drug Administration advisers that since the company pulled Vioxx from the market last year, studies suggesting similar problems with Celebrex and Bextra have changed his mind.

"The data strongly suggest it is a class effect," for all drugs of that type, Braunstein said.

The drugs, designed to help people in chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis, are known as Cox-2 inhibitors. At least two other Cox-2 drugs are awaiting approval from the FDA, Arcoxia from Merck and Lumiracoxib from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

The panels plan to discuss those drugs today.

Court battles

Federal lawsuits alleging Vioxx hurt patients will be transferred to a Louisiana judge who will handle all of the pretrial proceedings, it was announced Wednesday.

A panel of federal judges assigned all pending Vioxx product liability lawsuits against manufacturer Merck & Co. to Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is experienced in major pharmaceutical litigation.

A judicial panel in Florida last month heard arguments from New Jersey-based Merck and from plaintiffs' attorneys on possible locations to handle pretrial steps in the massive litigation.

Those steps include overseeing depositions of witnesses, document collection and deciding on pretrial motions filed by either side. The panel announced its decision Wednesday.

Merck said it is still awaiting the panel's decision on which federal court will handle lawsuits filed by shareholders claiming they lost money as a result of the Sept. 30 Vioxx withdrawal.

"We're pleased with the case being transferred to New Orleans and to Judge Fallon," said attorney Andy Birchfield, whose Alabama firm already has filed more than 100 Vioxx product liability suits.

"The court clearly has the resources to move this litigation forward in an efficient manner, and that's what we're looking for."

Merck pulled Vioxx from the market the day after its own internal research showed that long-term use of the drug increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Numerous other studies since then also have brought into question the safety of other painkillers in the same class as Vioxx. They are preferred by many doctors and patients because the drugs don't cause the stomach and intestinal problems associated with other painkillers.

"Merck intends to vigorously defend itself," the company said in a statement Wednesday. "Merck acted responsibly every step of the way -- from researching the drug prior to approval to monitoring the drug while it was on the market."

Many of the pending lawsuits were initiated before the recall. Plaintiffs' attorneys and some consumer advocates alleged Merck knew of the drug's risks long before the company pulled it from the market.

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