In Brief

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Study Concludes Vioxx Should Have Been Withdrawn Years Ago

A meta-analysis of studies of rofecoxib (Vioxx) has found that there was evidence as early as 2000 that the drug increased the risk of myocardial infarction. Merck, the makers of Vioxx, recently announced the drug's withdrawal because of an increased risk of cardiovascular events among participants in a colon polyp prevention trial who had taken the drug for more than 18 months.

In a study published online November 5 in The Lancet, researchers performed a meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials and 11 observational studies of Vioxx. They found that, by the end of 2000, patients taking Vioxx had double the risk of having a myocardial infarction compared with patients taking placebo, naproxen, or a non-naproxen non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In addition, patients were at increased risk even if they had been taking Vioxx for only a short time.

The researchers concluded that data existed to warrant the withdrawal of Vioxx at least 4 years ago.