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ARTICLE | Company News

Merck neurology news

September 16, 2013 7:00 AM UTC

Merck will pay $23 million to settle a class action lawsuit related to its promotion of discontinued pain drug Vioxx rofecoxib. The suit claims Merck falsely advertised Vioxx as having greater benefits than less expensive medicines, contradicting FDA-approved labeling. Merck said it denied the claims but has agreed to the settlement. Consumers who paid for all or part of the cost of Vioxx before Oct. 1, 2004, may submit claims for up to $50 in cash or reimbursement for up to the actual out-of-pocket expenses paid for Vioxx and up to $75 for certain other costs and losses. Consumers who settled a Vioxx personal injury claim or were a Missouri resident at the time of purchase are not included in the settlement. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana will hold a hearing on Dec. 13 to consider whether to approve the settlement and attorneys' fees and expenses up to 32% of the maximum $23 million settlement, or up to $7.4 million. ...