WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2005--Merck & Co., Inc. is disappointed a federal court jury in Houston, Texas could not return a verdict in Plunkett v. Merck and is prepared for a retrial, if that becomes necessary.
"We presented evidence that there is no medical or scientific evidence showing short-term use of VIOXX increases the risk of heart attack and no evidence that it contributed in any way to the unfortunate death of Richard Irvin," said Philip Beck, of the law firm of Bartlit Beck, Merck's lead trial lawyer in the case. "Mr. Irvin only took VIOXX for less than a month. He suffered multiple long-standing risk factors for a heart attack including partially clogged arteries. We believe that Mr. Irvin would have suffered a heart attack when he did, whether he was taking VIOXX or not."
