Merck trying to settle some legal challenges associated with Vioxx?

Merck previously stood firmly on its stand of not settling any legal challenges associated the recent incidents associated with its product Vioxx. Now there are signs that the drug giant may yield to the legal challenges associated with Vioxx.

Those legal challenges associated with Vioxx, that Merck would consider settling falls in to a narrow range as per the reports from the Wall Street Journal. This doesn't mean that Merck is changing its overall strategy of fighting every case associated with Vioxx in the court as per the company's general counsel.

As per the spokeswoman the cases that Merck would consider settling outside the court would include those associated with intake of Vioxx for more than 18 months and have developed heart attack or strokes despite having no risk factors for these ailments. They would carefully into the situation and decide about each one of them on an individual basis.

This change, nevertheless small, change suggest for the first time that settlement of a small number of Vioxx cases may be part of Merck's plan. Exactly how much number of patients would fit in to these criteria is unclear at this time.

This new move by Merck has to be viewed in the context of a recent trial that ended recently in which a jury asked Merck to pay $253 million dollars in compensation the death of 59-year-old man who took Vioxx for eight months to his widow. This amount is likely to be reduced to about $26 million under Texas damage caps.

Vioxx was recently withdrawn from the market in the United States when a clinical trial sponsored by Merck showed increased risk of heart attack and stroke associated intake of Vioxx for more than 18 months. It is estimated that more than 20 million people took Vioxx in the United States before the drug was withdrawn in September 2004.

Did you know?
Merck previously stood firmly on its stand of not settling any legal challenges associated the recent incidents associated with its product Vioxx. Now there are signs that the drug giant may yield to the legal challenges associated with Vioxx. Those legal challenges associated with Vioxx, that Merck would consider settling falls in to a narrow range as per the reports from the Wall Street Journal. This doesn't mean that Merck is changing its overall strategy of fighting every case associated with Vioxx in the court as per the company's general counsel.