SAN JUAN, PR— One-in-three patients in Puerto Rico who contacted a consumer advocacy group suffered health trouble or cardiovascular damages from Vioxx after ingesting the pain reliever for less than 18 months, according to a report released by the Consejo de Latinos Unidos, a national advocacy group that assists and educates Latinos. Merck, the manufacture of Vioxx, has held firm to the belief that there is no scientific evidence, no clinical proof that health damages occurred against patients with less than 18 months of Vioxx use. 

“Merck needs to pull its head out of the sand and face the ugly reality,” said K.B. Forbes, Executive Director of the Consejo de Latinos Unidos. “Vioxx was dangerous, harmful, hazardous, and even deadly to patients who used the product for even a brief period of time.” 

In their report, the Consejo reported that since November 2004, 987 Puerto Ricans who used Vioxx  and suffered health ailments have contacted the Consejo. Of those, 336 (34 percent) appear to have used the product for less than 18 months before suffering a cardiovascular event or change of health. In addition, of the 179 Vioxx patients Consejo identified as severe—those who suffered a major cardiovascular event that includes cardiac arrest, stroke or even death—56 cases (31 percent) appear to have used the product for less than 18 months. 

Last May, Merck acknowledge that data analysis of clinical studies of the deadly painkiller had errors, but stood by the results, including the conclusion that Vioxx did not cause cardiovascular risks until after 18 months of use. “Merck should stop defending flawed clinical trials and start looking at the human toll and correct what appears to be irresponsible corporate behavior,” said Forbes.