The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly rejected a request by Merck and Co. on Friday to market Arcoxia, a successor to its withdrawn arthritis drug Vioxx in the United States after a 20-1 vote some weeks ago.

Arcoxia falls in the same category of drugs as Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex that have been withdrawn from the market in September 2004, after studies showed they doubled the risk for heart attack and stroke

In an attempt to inform the public about the adverse effects of long term use of new drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue drug "report cards" which will provide details about unexpected side effects emerging within 18 months of a drug's approval.

The move has been strongly influenced by the public outcry over the withdrawal of the painkiller Vioxx and would include follow-up studies detailing how the drugs are being used

British Vioxx users who charge that the drug caused them heart attacks have lost their bid to seek compensation in the US. A New Jersey court has decided that patients must filed their case against the U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck in the UK courts.

Vioxx was an anti-inflammatory drug used for arthritis treatment recalled in 2004 when studies showed that 18-month use could lead to higher risk in heart attacks and strokes

European regulators are taking inventory of common pain killers after researchers warned that some of them could increase the risk for a heart attack.

Data from 140,000 patients suggests that some drugs could even double the rate for a heart attack

A new study says federal health regulators they lack the resources necessary to track the safety of new drugs and respond to problems.

The Institute of Medicine say experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration need more money, people and power to ensure the safety of drugs. Labeling and advertising restrictions on newly approved drugs are also needed