Vioxx litigation setbacks

Executive Summary

Atlantic City, N.J. state court judge sets aside a November verdict in favor of Merck and ordered a new trial for early next year, drug maker says Aug. 17. Decision comes after the New England Journal of Medicine asked Merck to submit a correction restating results of its Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research (VIGOR) in a December Expression of Concern (1"The Pink Sheet" Dec. 12, 2005, p. 9). Jury in Humeston v. Merck had cleared the firm of allegations it failed to properly warn patients of risks associated with the use of rofecoxib. Company says it is currently mulling its legal options, which could include interlocutory appeal. Separately, a New Orleans jury awards $51 mil. in damages to the plaintiff in the second Vioxx federal lawsuit, a verdict the firm says it will challenge...