Merck & Co. Inc. has provided new data to U.S. regulators showing that all patients who took the arthritis medicine
Vioxx were at increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other complications, National Public Radio reported on Wednesday.
Merck, which disputed the report, withdrew Vioxx from the market in September 2004 after a study showed the drug doubled the chances of heart attacks and strokes in patients who took it for at least 18 months.
A 107-page report provided to the Food and Drug Administration by Merck last week included data from a four-year study suggesting the risk started much earlier, NPR said.
"Experts who have reviewed (the data) for NPR say it shows that patients were at higher risk of heart problems and strokes almost as soon as they started taking Vioxx," NPR said.
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