Celebrex, Vioxx Caused Woman's Fatal Heart Attack, Family's Lawsuit Alleges

OCALA, Fla. - The family of a Florida woman who died from a heart attack after taking Vioxx and Celebrex has filed a lawsuit, alleging that Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc. failed to warn the public of each drug's 'significant propensities' to cause heart attacks and stroke. Souza, et al. v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al., No. 04-1842 (M.D. Fla.).

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges that both manufacturers had knowledge of the alleged cardiovascular side effects associated with their drugs, but concealed such information as of …