Merck Pharmaceuticals will face at least 3 federal trials the upcoming year over claims that drug painkiller Vioxx was the cause of strokes and heart attacks in some individuals. Trial is scheduled to begin on February 13, March 13, and April 3, 2006. Merck was ordered to pay $253 million dollars on August 19th over the claim that Robert Ernest, age 59 died as a result of taking Vioxx after 8 months. There are a total of 4,100 more lawsuits pending towards Merck as of now, with a $675 million budget set aside in Merck’s defense.

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