Vioxx Settlement, What about STATIN VICTIMS?

[Dee]

When do statin victims get justice? What on earth does it take?
Dee

"Merck said to settle Vioxx suits for $4.85B

Drugmaker agrees to resolve up to 27,000 suits over painkiller, published reports say.
November 9 2007: 6:38 AM EST
LONDON (CNNMoney.com) -- Merck has agreed to pay $4.85 billion to settle up to 27,000 claims over injuries linked to its Vioxx painkiller, according to published reports.

The settlement is expected to be announced Friday morning and represents a change in stance for the drugmaker, which earlier had insisted it would fight each Vioxx case, the Wall Street Journal said.

The settlement is one of the biggest ever in civil litigation, according to the New York Times. It comes after almost 20 Vioxx civil trials were held over the last two years.

The Times said the amount plaintiffs will receive from the settlement will depend on how long they took the pain medication and the severity of their injuries, the newspaper said.

Both the Times and the Journal cited sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

A Merck spokesman told CNN that there is no final agreement.

"We have been asked by the judge to talk to the plaintiffs and we are doing that right now," Merck's Christopher Garland said.

Merck (Charts, Fortune 500) shares edged higher in Frankfurt trading on Friday.

Vioxx became a popular pain medication after it was approved for sale in 1999, with annual sales rising to $2.5 billion, the Journal said. Merck pulled the drug from the market in September 2004 due to safety concerns."

*http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/09/news/companies/merck_vioxx/index.htm?cnn=yes

[imanut]

Well, let's see. The lawyers will get their 50%. The judges, and the doctors will insist on their share to "right this wrong". That'll leave about 1 billion, 27000 people = about what??? $370 per person???

Justice??? I say, hang them by their appendages----------

gn