Drug maker Merck & Co. Inc. said Friday the jury in a Florida liability case involving its painkiller Vioxx decided in the company’s favor.
The company said the jury found it was not liable for plaintiff Refik Kozic’s heart attack. Kozic alleged that he used Vioxx for about nine weeks before suffering his heart attack in April 2001 at 50, according to Merck.
It was the first Vioxx case in Florida to go to trial.
Merck pulled its blockbuster drug from the market Sept. 30, 2004, due to increased risk of heart attack and stroke that prompted massive litigation. Soon after that, analysts predicted liability could reach $50 billion. But that hasn’t proven true, as the drug maker has won 11 verdicts and lost 5 so far.
Merck also claimed victory in two multibillion-dollar class-action lawsuits, on behalf of shareholders and private insurers seeking to recoup what they paid for Vioxx prescriptions.
Still, at least 45,200 product liability cases are pending.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Dubai Flights Disrupted After Drones Injure Four Near Main Airport 
Prices for New Cars Have Soared. Here’s One Big Reason Why 
Chubb to Serve as Lead US Insurer for Gulf Shipping Amid Iran War 
Meta Loses Insurance for Defense in Major Social Media Addiction Litigation 
