Merck to Pay $830 Million to Settle Vioxx Securities Claims
- Company paid more than $8.5 billion over drug pulled in 2004
- Vioxx pulled over increased risk of heart attacks, strokes
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More than 11 years after pulling its Vioxx painkiller from the market, Merck & Co. agreed to pay another $830 million to settle litigation, raising its total payouts in lawsuits and government investigations to more than $8.5 billion.
The settlement announced Friday resolves a lawsuit with investors who claimed Merck made misleading statements about the safety of the drug, which the company pulled in 2004 after a study found it posed an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.