USLegal Reporter

Merck & Co., Inc. announced its agreement today to pay $4.85 billion in settlement costs for 27,000 lawsuits surrounding its painkiller drug Vioxx, which was pulled from the market in 2004 for its associated heart attack and stroke risks.

The settlement will become binding upon approval of 85% of the 47,000 plaintiffs in the pending lawsuits. Plaintiffs who claim they or a family member were injured or died after taking Vioxx will receive various payment amounts pursuant to the settlement according to the types of injuries and the duration of their use of the drug.

Although it lost a $253 million verdict in a Texas case, Merck won most of its Vioxx cases that went to juries.

Source: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/11/merck-to-pay-485b-to-settle-all-pending.php

A Madison County, Illinois jury found on Tuesday that the painkiller Vioxx, made by Merck & Co., Inc., did not cause the death of Patty Schwaller in 2003. Schwaller’s husband claimed that his wife’s use of Vioxx for approximately 20 months contributed to her heart attack, and that Merck did not issue adequate warnings to physicians and patients regarding the association of the drug with increased risks of heart problems. Merck argued that risks from Schwaller’s weight, health condition and sedentary lifestyle, including obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure may have caused her sudden death.

Merck removed Vioxx from the market in 2004 after research found a possible link between the drug and an increase in the risks of heart attacks and strokes. Merck has been named in more than 27,000 lawsuits by persons claiming harm from the drug.

The case is Frank Schwaller v. Merck & Co., Inc, No. 05-L-687. Decided March 27, 2007.

Source: http://money.iwon.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt_top.jsp?cat=TOPBIZ&feed=ap&src=601&section=news&news_id=ap-d8o4jo8o0&date=20070327&alias=/alias/money/cm/nw