Product News and Recalls

Merck To Pay Additional $23 Million To End Vioxx Litigation

On November 9, 2007 Merck agreed to a $4.85 billion global settlement in the Vioxx litigation. Bloomberg reports that Merck has now agreed to pay another $23 million for allegedly misleading their customers into buying their drug.

Customers are uniting in nationwide group litigation contending that “Merck officials sold Vioxx for unapproved uses and made false statements about its cardiovascular safety.” In other words, they were duped into buying the painkiller and now feel they are owed additional compensation for their economic losses, such as prescription costs, tied to Vioxx.

Soon after its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999, Vioxx – Merck’s blockbuster painkiller commonly used to treat arthritis – was strongly linked with several severe adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers are quoted as approving this settlement, explaining it seems “a fair, efficient and reasonable resolution of the disputed claims.” This settlement comes as a continued effort to finalize Vioxx litigation, which has been drawn out for more than eight years and has ultimately cost the manufacturer over $5.8 billion.

Lopez McHugh is no longer accepting clients for this litigation. But thanks to the efforts of Lopez McHugh attorneys, hundreds of clients received compensation for their Vioxx injuries.