FDA Rejects Potential Vioxx Successor

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co., Inc. announced that it has received a "non-approvable letter" from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to Merck's efforts to market its painkiller Arcoxia in the U.S. An anti-inflammatory drug called a "Cox-2 inhibitor", Arcoxia was seen as a potential successor to Merck's Vioxx, another Cox-2 inhibitor which was withdrawn from the marketplace in September of 2004 after it was linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Arcoxia will continue to be available outside of the U.S., according to Merck.

• Press Release from Merck
• AP story: FDA Rejects Painkiller Arcoxia, Merck's Vioxx Successor
• Vioxx Information and Resources (FindLaw)