BMJ  2008;336:1208-1209 (31 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39591.705231.DB

News

Merck to pay $58m in settlement over rofecoxib advertising

¹ Florida

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Merck & Company has agreed to pay $58m (£29m; 37m) to settle allegations that advertising for its analgesic rofecoxib (Vioxx) played down potential health risks.

The civil settlement ends investigations by 29 US states and the District of Columbia into Merck’s previous advertising practices for the drug. Tom Corbett, attorney general of Pennsylvania, said that the agreement is the largest in a multi-state consumer protection case involving drugs.

Mr Corbett said that in 1999 Merck had launched "an aggressive and deceptive advertising campaign which misrepresented the safety and improperly concealed the increased risks associated with Vioxx." Hundreds of thousands of consumers demanded prescriptions for the drug before doctors had a chance to understand the side effects, he added.

"Consumers need clear information about the risks associated with prescription drugs so that they can make well informed decisions about their health care," Mr Corbett said. "This settlement addresses all of our . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Article

94% of patients suing Merck over rofecoxib agree to company’s offer

Fred Charatan
BMJ 2008 336: 580-581. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]