Judge sees Vioxx lawsuit lasting rest of decade

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The lawsuits against Merck & Co. Inc. for the alleged damages caused by its painkiller Vioxx are expected to last up to five years, the U.S. judge said on Thursday.

“I hope to get this entire litigation finished in four to a maximum of five years,” said U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon, who is overseeing nearly 500 lawsuits that have been filed against Merck.

Vioxx, which was withdrawn from the market in September after studies linked it to increased risk of Heart attack and Stroke, was prescribed to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

Merck, based in Whitehorse Station, New Jersey, maintains it acted responsibly.

Phillip Whitman, the attorney leading Merck’s committee of defense lawyers said another 382 cases were waiting to be transferred to the federal court’s jurisdiction.

“We’re expecting 100,000 cases in this litigation,” said Russ Herman, who is leading the attorneys on the plaintiffs’ steering committee. 

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