Merck's Vioxx Gets OK for Child Arthritis

Merck(MRK Quote) said Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration has approved its arthritis drug Vioxx for treating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The FDA's decision allows Merck to market the drug directly to physicians treating this disease, which is the most common form of arthritis in children, affecting an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 in the U.S. The drug is approved for children as young as two years old who weigh at least 22 pounds.

Vioxx has multiple FDA-approved uses, with the most recent coming in March for treating acute migraine headaches in adults. The drug is approved for treating the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in adults, management of acute pain in adults and painful menstrual cramps. ...