Merck Moves to Dismiss California Vioxx Suit

Merck has moved to dismiss the first Vioxx case scheduled to go to trial in California on statute of limitations grounds.  The case was filed by a 73-year-old man who had a heart attack after taking the pain reliever.  It is among 1800 Vioxx suits filed against the company in California.

A recent study published last month in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that Vioxx users suffered a risk of heart attack after only two weeks of use.  Merck's own earlier study indicated that the risk does not arise until the drug has been used for 18 months.

A recent $32 million jury verdict was rendered against Merck in Texas in the case of a 71-year-old man who died after taking Vioxx for less than a month.  It was the first verdict against the company in a case involving use of the drug for a short period of time.  See the story by Amanda Bronstad in The National Law Journal.

JDP