RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: Merck pulled Vioxx off the market in 2004 after a study showed the drug raised the risk of heart attack.
Drug maker Merck will pay as much as $5 billion to settle claims linked to its painkiller, Vioxx. Merck faces 27,000 lawsuits from users claiming they suffered injury or died after taking the drug. Merck pulled Vioxx off the market in 2004 after a study showed the drug raised the risk of heart attacks.