Merck, Schering-Plough Shares Climb

Article in today’s Washington Post — Merck, Schering-Plough Shares Climb, by Linda Johnson.  The article notes that “Merck . . . said it can now reasonably estimate its Vioxx costs through2008 and reserved an additional $598 million for future defense costs,on top of the $970 million previously set aside. But the number ofVioxx lawsuits has now topped 24,000, and an additional 15,000potential plaintiffs have entered agreements temporarily suspending thetime to sue.”

BGS