They are used for a decrease in pain, for ailments such as arthritis and other joint inflammation. Vioxx was to be the latest and greatest pain relief medication, due to the fact that it caused less gastrointestinal problems for its users than similar medications on the market. Merck asked that the drug be granted approval from the FDA in 1998, after conducting 8 studies on 5,400 subjects. After concluding the findings in a second study of 8,000 participants, the FDA approves the drug in May 1999, making it available by prescription to the U.S. …show more content…
Merck was made aware of these studies and chose to do nothing, instead they would attack the studies credibility, stating it was imperfect and could not determine accurate risk. By the way, Merck never initiated its own trial to rule out cardiovascular issues and the FDA never pushed the company to do so. There were many warning signs along the way, that had Merck heeded, would have avoided the many lawsuits, damages and loss of life that have occurred. Merck and the FDA, failed the general public the whole time this drug sat on the