Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12033

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Charatan F.
Merck to pay $5bn in rofecoxib claims
BMJ 2007 Nov 17; 335:(7628):1011
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7628/1011?etoc

Abstract:

The US drug company Merck announced last week that it will pay $4.85bn (£2.3bn; 3.3bn) to settle 26 600 lawsuits, representing 47 000 plaintiffs, in addition to 265 possible class action cases, arising out of the use of rofecoxib (Vioxx).

The agreement is to cover cases filed in federal and state courts, and depends on 85% of all plaintiffs dropping their cases. The money will be paid into a settlement fund for claims that qualify. In a statement the company said, “This is not a class action settlement. Claims will be evaluated on an individual basis.”

Chris Seeger, one of six lawyers for the plaintiffs who helped to negotiate the settlement, said that it was the largest ever in the drug industry.

Rofecoxib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for the relief of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, management of acute pain in adults, and treatment . . .