Merck now willing to talk

As many observers expected Merck is now starting to change its tune with regard to settling some of the Vioxx lawsuits filed against it.

They are now going to consider settling cases involving persons who suffered heart attacks or strokes after taking Vioxx for more than 18 months and who did not have pre-existing risk factors for heart problems. Yet they are still denying any prospects of a global settlement.

The FDA's own scientists and studies have suggested that Vioxx may have caused up to 160,000 heart attacks and strokes and over 27,000 deaths in Americans who took the drug.