"For some users of Vioxx and Bextra, known as Cox-2 inhibitors, the statute of limitations ran out before the drugs were found to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, so the patients were unable to sue the drug's manufacturer, Merck & Co.
"The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 4-3 with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans opposed. It will now go to a vote in the full Senate.
"The bill would extend the deadline for filing lawsuits to two years after the cause of injury was discovered. For Vioxx users, that would be two years from Sept. 30, 2004, the date the drug was pulled from the market." [OregonLive.com]
