Vioxx Timeline: 1998-2005

On Friday, Merck(MRK Quote) lost its first Vioxx trial and promptly said it would appeal the Texas state court jury verdict. The company is facing at least 4,100 individual personal injury suits, a host of class-action lawsuits and litigation claiming Merck's handling of Vioxx violated securities laws as well as laws governing retirement plans. And that's only the U.S. cases. Here's a look at how Merck and Vioxx wound up in court.

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November 1998: Merck submits an application to the Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for the Cox-2 inhibitor drug Vioxx as a treatment for osteoarthritis, on the basis of clinical trials involving 5,400 patients. Merck says rates of cardiovascular risk were "similar" among patients taking Vioxx, placebo or other pain relievers. ...