Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13696
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: news
Raffaele M.
Merck agrees to $58M settlement over Vioxx ad claims
Forbes.com 2008 May 20
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/05/20/ap5029846.html?partner=alerts
Full text:
Merck & Co. is paying $58 million as part of a multistate settlement concerning advertising of the now-withdrawn painkiller, Vioxx.
The settlement announced Tuesday addresses allegations that Merck’s advertising deceptively downplayed the health risks of Vioxx. New Jersey-based Merck is not admitting any wrongdoing under the settlement.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says the settlement ends investigations by 29 states and the District of Columbia into Merck’s advertising practices involving Vioxx.
The settlement also calls for Merck to submit all new TV commercials for its drugs to the FDA for review.
Vioxx was taken off the market in 2004 after research showed it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
