The probability that Merck & Co. Inc.'s arthritis drug Vioxx could lead to heart problems or stroke is very high, an expert witness told a court hearing a closely watched product liability lawsuit, Reuters reported. Fredrick Humeston, a 60-year-old postal worker and Vietnam War veteran, is suing the drug maker, blaming Merck's painkiller for his 2001 heart attack. The trial in Atlantic City, which got underway this week, is the second such case against Merck, which withdrew its blockbuster Vioxx drug, a so-called COX-2 inhibitor, from the market last year. "The probability is very high that Vioxx and other COX-2 inhibitors, but mostly Vioxx, can lead to the development of thrombo-embololic events," said Benedict Lucchesi, professor of pharmacology at University of Michigan Medical School. Lucchesi, responding to questions from the plaintiff's attorney Christopher Seeger, added: "Based on my medical knowledge, there is a very good probability that Vioxx does pose a risk to patients with underlying disorders." --more 2351 Local Time 2051 GMT
