According to the US Department of Justice, Merck will pay a total of $950 million to resolve investigations into its marketing of the drug Vioxx. This drug was pulled off the market in 2004 after it was linked to increased risks of heart attack and stroke in its users.
A breakdown of fines reflects that Merck will pay $321.6 million in criminal fines and $628.4 million as a civil settlement. The deal also includes Merck pleading guilty to a charge of marketing Vioxx as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis before the US Food and Drug Administration granted such approval.
According to a statement issued by Merck on its website, the civil settlement did not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing.
In November 2007, Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion to settle approximately 50,000 lawsuits from plaintiffs who said they or family members were injured or had died after taking Vioxx.