Stories

The human narratives behind safety signals. Investigations into the cases, decisions, and turning points that shaped modern pharmacovigilance.

Story·March 15, 2026·4 min read

The Signal That Changed Everything: How Rofecoxib Reshaped Drug Safety

On September 30, 2004, Merck withdrew Vioxx from the global market. The cardiovascular signal had been visible for years — but the systems meant to catch it failed at every level. What went wrong, and what changed because of it.