painkiller

As arguments in the first Vioxx trial come to a close, legal observers think the outcome of the wrongful death lawsuit against Merck is likely to hinge on the instructions the judge gives to the jury. If they think Vioxx was to blame for the death of Robert Ernst, jurors will now have to decide if Vioxx alone was responsible or if it was a "contributing factor." Plaintiff attorney W. Mark Lanier argues it is enough for the drug to have been a "contributor." Merck attorneys counter that …

A Texas jury heard the first evidence in the Ernst v. Merck trial, the wrongful-death suit brought by a Texas woman who believes her husband died as a result of taking Vioxx. Plaintiff attorney W. Mark Lanier grilled Merck's head of epidemiology, Nancy Santello, for much of the day in a style that is often described as being as entertaining as it is effective.

Many of the questions focused on "the dodge ball" memo, a Merck document outlining an internal strategy for dealing with …

Opening arguments were heard yesterday in Ernst v. Merck, the first Vioxx lawsuit to go to trial. A South Texas jury heard plaintiff attorney W. Mark Lanier argue that the drug maker should be held liable for the death of a Texas man who died in his sleep in 2001 after taking the painkiller. In his opening statement, Lanier argued that the death was a consequence of Merck's decision to rush Vioxx to market -- a choice which, according to the lawyer, was ultimately a result of …

An FDA advisory panel recommended yesterday that three popular asthma drugs be allowed to remain on the market, despite some evidence linking them to serious health risks in a few instances. The specialist panel said that the benefits that Advair, Servent and Fidil provide far outweighs any risks associated with the drugs. The panel did, however, suggest adding a warning label for Fidil, which is made by Novartis, to inform patients of possible health risks.

A seperate FDA review …

Jury selection begins this week in the first Vioxx lawsuit to go to trial. Opening arguments are expected in a federal court in Angleton, Texas, as early as Thursday. Carol Ernst, who lost her husband to a heart arrhythmia, is suing drug giant Merck for failing to warn patients of the risks involved with the painkiller. Ernst is represented by W. Mark Lanier, who The New York Times calls "one of the best trial lawyers in the country." The paper notes that the case will draw major attention.

- see this story from The New York Times

The maker of Oxycontin and a drug wholesaler are launching the first attempt to use RFID technology to track the movements of prescription drugs through the supply chain. Purdue Pharma, which makes the controversial painkiller, and drug wholesaler H.D. Smith are teaming up with Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Supplyscape and Unisys on the pilot. The news comes at a time when more than a dozen states are pushing for stricter rules. Purdue says it has spent about $2 million on the …