A jury in New Jersey has ruled in favor of Merck in the latest Vioxx case, rejecting the claim largely because of the patient's history of cardiac problems. Elaine Doherty had several blocked arteries when she started taking Vioxx, a fact that several jurors said influenced their decision. Merck has now won four of the cases it has defended and lost three. Thousands of claims have been filed against the drug maker by patients who say they never knew of the cardiovascular risks posed by the drug.
- here's the report on the verdict from the AP