October 8, 2004
Lawyers representing Canadians who used the popular arthritis and pain-killer drug Vioxx today filed a national class on behalf of Vioxx users who suffered heart attacks, strokes and other complications.
Two Vioxx users, who each sustained massive heart attacks that required surgical intervention following their ingestion of Vioxx, have agreed to act as representative plaintiffs.
"I am simply astonished that in this day and age this drug company kept selling the drug making huge profits even when they knew of the serious increased risk of heart attack and stroke," said Mary Jane McNicholl, a Toronto heart attack victim and one of the representative Plaintiffs. "This kind of thing should not be permitted in Canada."
A statement of claim has been issued in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking a National Class Action. Four other class actions have been commenced in Quebec, together with claims in British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan within the past week.
Vioxx was withdrawn from the worldwide market September 30, 2004, following continuing reports and studies that found patients using Vioxx faced a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular complications, including heart attack, stroke, angina, blood clots and congestive heart failure.
Launched in Canada in October 1999, in 2000 reports surfaced linking the drug to an alarming series of associated complications, including increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications, as well as liver damage, kidney damage and lack of bone healing.
"Other drug companies must be forced to be more conscientious to make sure they thoroughly test all drugs before they are released for human consumption and after they are released - look at devastating results when the companies don't act responsibly. It ruins lives," said James Venables, a Calgary resident and heart attack victim.
In Australia, a Brisbane law firm says it has begun assembling a class action. It's estimated up to 700,000 Australians may be using Vioxx.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration says one-in-65 users may be affected after taking the drug for more than 18 months.
