Merck Report Absolves Managers on Vioxx

Article in today’s Chicago Tribune — Merck Report Absolves Managers on Vioxx, by Theresa Agovino:

    Merck & Co.’s board of directors said Wednesday that a 20-month investigation
    funded by the pharmaceutical company found that senior management acted
    responsibly in its development and marketing of its now withdrawn pain reliever Vioxx.

    The 1,700-page report, which cost $21 million, contained some minor criticisms of
    employee actions but concluded that “management acted with integrity and had
    legitimate reasons for making the decisions that it made, in light of the knowledge
    available at the time.”

    Merck pulled Vioxx off the market two years ago after a study found it doubled patients’
    risk of heart attacks and strokes. The company now faces more than 14,200 lawsuits
    which allege Merck knew Vioxx’s risk.