Merck to pay $58m in settlement over rofecoxib advertising

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 336; no. 7655; pp. 1208 - 1209
• Main Author: Charatan, Fred
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 31.05.2008; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
• Edition: International edition
• Subjects: Advertising as Topic - legislation & jurisprudence; Alcohols; Analgesics; Attorneys general; Consumer protection; Corbett, Tom; Drug Industry - legislation & jurisprudence; False advertising; Hospital admissions; Humans; Lactones; News; Pharmaceutical industry; Prescription drugs; Psychiatric hospitals; Settlements & damages; Sulfones; United States; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 0959-8146; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39591.705231.DB

Merck & Company has agreed to pay $58m (L29m;euro37m) 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. He added that hundreds of thousands of consumers demanded prescriptions for the drug before doctors had a chance to understand the side effects.