Merck says thousands file for Vioxx payments

Merck & Co Monday said more than 93 percent of the 47,000 people who allege the arthritis drug Vioxx caused their heart attack or stroke have submitted claims in the company’s settlement offer.

Of some 47,000 people who registered eligible injuries, about 44,000 submitted some or all of the documents that could qualify them for an interim payment in the program to resolve state and federal heart attack and stroke claims filed in the United States, Merck said.

Merck withdrew arthritis pill Vioxx from the market in 2004 after research found it doubled heart attack and stroke risk. Its settlement agreement with people alleging injury from the drug calls for the company to meet an 85 percent threshold for receiving enrollment documents in various claims categories.

Meeting the threshold obligates Merck to pay $4.85 billion in installments into a resolution fund.

Another 5,500 eligible heart attack and stroke claimants alleging death have initiated enrollment, and more than 26,500 eligible heart attack and stroke claimants alleging more than 12 months of use have initiated enrollment, Merck said. In addition, the eligibility of another 5,000 claimants who have sought to enroll has to be determined.

The company said it expects to meet all enrollment thresholds.

Merck recorded a fourth-quarter 2007 pretax charge of $4.85 billion to cover the cost of the agreement.