Merck agreed to pay more than $4 billion to settle the majority of the claims that have arisen from their popular drug Vioxx. Victims and their families claim that Vioxx causes heart attacks and strokes.
Merck has won most of the Vioxx cases that have gone to trial and many observers actually believed that this was a favorable settlement for Merck.
Approximately 38,000 or the 60,000 Vioxx plaintiffs must agree to the settlement for it to proceed. Merck has indicated that it will defend all claims not included in the ultimate settlement.
For more information on this settlement, see the InjuryBoard.com Vioxx page. http://www.injuryboard.com/topic/vioxx--rofecoxib.aspx
See also, Jane Akre's InjuryBoard National News Desk: http://www.injuryboard.com/national-news/merck-to-settle-vioxx-claims.aspx?googleid=28392