On May 1, 2008, Merck & Co. announced it was extending the deadline for eligible United States claimants to participate in its proposed $4.85 billion Vioxx product liability lawsuit settlement. The new deadline for registration is June 30, 2008.

When the settlement proposal was first announced, Merck said it would not commit to the plan until at least 85 percent of eligible former Vioxx users signed up. That benchmark has already been reached, as about 94 percent signed up before the deadline was extended.

To be eligible for the proposed Vioxx settlement, patients or their survivors must have either filed a Vioxx product liability lawsuit or signaled their intent to file such a suit by November 9, 2007.

Thousands of Vioxx product liability lawsuits were filed on the heels of a 2004 study finding long-term users of the drug faced twice the “normal” risk of heart attack and stroke. Vioxx was recalled in September 2004.

Source: Ransdell Piersen, “Merck extends deadline for Vioxx settlement,” YahooNews, May 1, 2008.