Fact check
Is it true: Vioxx cardiovascular concealment (Merck, 1999-2004)?
Yes — this is confirmed.
Internal documents and litigation discovery confirm Merck had evidence of Vioxx cardiovascular risk from the VIGOR trial (2000) and delayed public disclosure for four years. APPROVe (2004) confirmed doubled CV risk; Merck withdrew the drug globally. FDA estimated 27,000–55,000 excess cardiovascular deaths. MDL 1657 settled for $4.85 billion (2007); criminal misdemeanour guilty plea and $321M fine (2011). Senate Finance Committee hearings documented internal decision-making to minimise the cardiovascular signal.
The claim
Merck launched the painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib) in 1999 despite internal data suggesting elevated cardiovascular risk. The VIGOR trial (2000) showed a five-fold increase in heart attacks versus naprox
Key evidence
VIGOR trial (2000): five-fold increase in heart attacks
Merck's naproxen hypothesis was not scientifically validated
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