Merck & Co. settles Vioxx case for $58M - Washington Business Journal:

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Vioxx was pulled from the market in 2004 after studielinked long-term use to increased heartf attack or stroke Merck (NYSE: MRK) of Whitehouse Station, N.J., is not admittin g to any wrongdoing as part of the The company's executive vice presideny and general counsel, Bruce Kuhlik, said the "agreementg enables Merck to put this matter behind us and focuse on what Merck does developing new medicines." Maryland Attorney General Douglazs Gansler alleged that Merck violated the Consumer Protectiom Act by failing to inform consumers that the use of Vioxsx could cause serious cardiovascular side effects. Merckj denied that allegation.
"Consumers have a right to know about the side effectss that their medicationscan cause," Ganslet said in a statement. "This judgment will help ensure that Mercmk provides that information to consumers inthe future." In additionj to the payment, Merck agreeds to no longer engage in positive articles about its products that appear in medical refrain from using scientifivc data deceptively when marketing to delay any direct-to-consumer television advertising for a pain medicatiom if recommended by the FDA, submity all TV advertising campaigns to the FDA beforse release for review, and adhere to any FDA The settlement includes Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, Nortb Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Southb Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Merck said Tuesday that it took a $55 million pretac charge in the first quart er "in anticipation of this Merck has also allocated $4.
5 billion to settle the tens of thousandsd of private lawsuits filed against the company by people who used the