Case Against Merck & Co Dismissed
Posted on Nov 21, 2009 2:55pm PST
This week, a court in
Texas dismissed a lawsuit that had been brought against well-known drugmaker, Merck & Co, by the state. The state was seeking refund money that it spent on the Vioxx pain treatment, which was withdrawn.
The case was presided over by Travis County Judge, Scott Jenkins. Judge Jenkins ruled in favor of Merck's motion for summary judgment in a case that had been filed by the Texas Attorney General's Office in 2005. In the suit, the state sought damages and penalties from the drugmaker because it said Merck violated the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevenetion Act.
In September 2004, Merck & Co voluntarily withdrew their drug, Vioxx, from the market. The company decided to withdraw the product after clinical testing showed that Vioxx increased the chances of heart attack and stroke in those who used the drug on a long-term basis.
Merck settled personal injury claims with numerous Vioxx users in November 2007 for $4.85 billion. Additionally, in May 2008, the company agreed to pay $58 million to 29 states to resolve Vioxx investigations and probes involving state consumer protection laws.
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