CHICAGO, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Attorneys general of Illinois, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Vermont announced expansion of a Vioxx consumer refund program.
Prescription drug manufacturer Merck pulled the popular painkiller off the market Sept. 30 because of reports the drug could increase risk of heart attack and stroke. About 1.6 million Americans consumers were taking Vioxx.
Many destroyed or discarded the drug on doctor's orders rather than keep an unsafe drug in the medicine chest. New Jersey-based Merck said it would give refunds to consumers who returned all unused Vioxx to the pharmaceutical giant. Consumers will now have until March 31, 2005 to certify in writing that they discarded unused Vioxx to qualify for a refund.
"It is crucial that Merck's refund program for Vioxx be as flexible as possible to ensure that refunds for all unused medication are available to Illinois consumers," said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. "It is my hope that the Vioxx refund program will be able to accomplish its goal of refunding the necessary money to every eligible consumer."
