The AP reports, “Merck & Co. said Monday it received a letter from federal prosecutors notifying the company it is ‘a target’ of a grand jury investigation involving the painkiller Vioxx [rofecoxib], which Merck pulled from the market in 2004.” The company said the investigation, which it “has previously disclosed,” has “been ongoing since 2004.” Merck added that the probe “relates to activities in connection with Vioxx,” and that “it ‘has responded and is continuing to respond to requests from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for documents and information in connection with the ongoing investigation.'” The company “pulled the painkiller pill off the market in September 2004 after its own research showed it doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke.” In November 2007, Merck said “it agreed to a $4.85 billion settlement designed to end the bulk of personal injury lawsuits stemming from Vioxx.”
From the American Association for Justice news release.
