In litigation arising out of the consumption of Vioxx (that allegedly caused either strokes or heart attacks), covering more than 47,000 plaintiffs in CA, NJ and Texas, Merck will pay $4.85 billion. To receive funds, plaintiffs must: (1) have medical proof of a heart attack or stroke injury; (2) documentation of receipt of 30+ Vioxx pills; and (3) documentation of receiving enough pills to circumstantially demonstrate ingestion of Vioxx within 14 days of their stroke or heart attack. Merck’s total exposure was estimated to be more than $50 billion and it has spent more than $1.2 billion in legal fees in taking 17 cases to verdict — 5 plaintiff verdicts and 12 defense verdicts.

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