what is vioxx? why was it withdrawn?

Rofecoxib - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I keep reading about vioxx and decided to look it up on wikipedia! Some very bad side effects, and numerous suits for Merck! wow.

This is interesting because the suits have been for such large amounts, and merck has been losing.

Rofecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, acute pain conditions, and dysmenorrhoea. Formerly marketed by Merck & Co. under the trade names Vioxx, Ceoxx and Ceeoxx, it was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in 2004 because of concerns about increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Rofecoxib was one of the most widely used drugs ever to be withdrawn from the market. Worldwide, over two million people were prescribed Vioxx at the time. In the year before withdrawal, Merck had a sales revenue of US$2.5 billion from Vioxx.