Massive suit expected in UK over arthritis drug
Publish date: 26 November 2004
Issue Number: 1226
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: General
The withdrawal of the arthritis painkiller drug Vioxx in September is being followed by what could be a huge compensation claim on behalf of hundreds of British patients who took the medicine.
The Guardian reports that leading law firms, Leigh, Day & Co and Irwin Mitchell, have decided to bring claims in Britain rather than in the US against the multinational drug company Merck, US maker of the painkiller. It was withdrawn amid evidence that it carries an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. About 50 potential British claimants have come forward, but lawyers believe there could be many more among the 400 000 Britons who took Vioxx. More than 300 lawsuits have already been filed in the US, where it is estimated that the company\'s litigation bill could reach $18bn. Full report in The Guardian
