Vioxx Settles - Merck & Co. to Pay $4.85 Billion

Greg Owen

Attorney

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Merck & Co. have agreed to a $4.85 billion global resolution for claims stemming from claims of heart attacks, strokes and even deaths due to the ingestion of the drug Vioxx. Now these victims can finally be compensated, which will bring an end to the on-going Vioxx litigation.

Vioxx was first marketed by Merck & Co. In 1999 to treat arthritis and other types of pain. The drug was made by the Whitehouse Station, New Jersey company. It is a drug that is non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory. It is also a drug that carries a heart attack risk that is five times higher then people taking other types of painkillers.

Despite having that information Merck waited for two years before warning physicians about the risks of taking Vioxx. It seems money got in the way of their conscience, after all Vioxx was a multi-billion-dollar-a-year drug. It was not until 2004 that the drug manufacturers voluntarily withdrew that drug. And now, the final settlement. It has been a long time coming. For the people who have been permanently damaged by this drug and for those who have lost loved ones, hopefully this settlement will allow closure to some degree so that they can pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward.

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