…but, of course, Merck plans to appeal.
The 77-year-old man, who blamed his heart attack on Merck’s Vioxx, won $9 million today after already being awarded $4.5 million, bringing his grand total to $13.5 million.
This was the 6th trial over Vioxx, and “the first involving people alleging use of 18 months or more.” That 18-month benchmark is significant because “the study that prompted Merck to voluntarily withdraw the drug found that its risks doubled after 18 months’ use.”
In its only other loss in a Vioxx case, Merck was ordered last August to pay $253 million to the widow of a man who died after taking the drug for a short time.
Merck is gong to face almost 10,000 more cases in state and federal courts, and the company “has vowed to try them one at a time.” That’s gotta be one happy (and rich) team of lawyers…
Source: Yahoo News