Vixoxx Recall

On September 30, 2004, the prescription drug company Merck announced a worldwide withdrawal of its arthritis and pain medication Rofecoxib, sold under the brand name Vioxx (or Ceoxx), because a study showed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The study that led to the recall of Vioxx showed that patients without a history of coronary heart disease or other risk factors regularly taking Vioxx faced twice the risk of a heart attack compared to patients not taking Vioxx. Vioxx users with a history of cardiovascular issues were at a five-fold increased risk.