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Sunday, 28 August 2005 11:18

BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk

Hope for Vioxx victims

Lawyers representing hundreds of people across the country who are planning to claim damages because they say the drug Vioxx caused them to have heart attacks and strokes, yesterday welcomed the manufacturer’s announcement that its willing to settle a number of the lawsuits.

US drug giant Merck is facing thousands of claims after a jury in Texas awarded damages of £140m earlier this month following the death of a man who used Vioxx.

Merck initially announced its intention to fight every lawsuit “tooth and nail” but relented on Friday with a statement saying it would look to settle the key cases.

Gerard Dervan, a lawyer with MSB Solicitors in Liverpool, said: “Merck appears to be going back on its stance of fighting every case. It is likely it will settle stronger cases and fight weaker ones.”

The success of the British claimants is likely to rest upon the outcome of tests being carried out in the US to establish whether there is a link between Vioxx and the health problems suffered by hundreds of people in this country.

However, British lawyers have warned that very few Vioxx users will ultimately receive compensation.

“It could be a very positive development,” said Sallie Booth of Irwin Mitchell law firm which represents several hundred clients who took Vioxx. “But it's too early for us to place a value on the decision. It's going to be interesting to see just which cases Merck thinks are capable of being settled.”

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