Merck Wins 4th Vioxx Verdict
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NEW ORLEANS — A Tennessee man’s claim that the maker of the sincewithdrawn painkiller Vioxx should be blamed for his 2003 heart attack was rejected yesterday by a federal jury, the fourth victory for drug maker Merck & Co. in five federal trials.
The jury answered “no” on a verdict questionnaire when asked if evidence showed that Merck failed to adequately warn Anthony Dedrick’s doctors of any known risk posed by Vioxx, or that the lack of such a warning was a cause of Mr. Dedrick’s heart attack.
Merck lawyers had attacked the credibility of Mr. Dedrick, 50, of Waynesboro, Tenn., who was seeking $200,000 from the company.
“The jury felt Merck acted appropriately and that Vioxx did not play a role in Mr. Dedrick’s heart attack,” Merck’s lead attorney, Phil Beck, said.
Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck had won three previous federal cases and lost one. In state courts, the company has won three and lost three. Jurors in another state case decided in Merck’s favor, but the judge later ordered a retrial.