Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced on Friday, that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reached an $8.25 million settlement with Merck, maker of the prescription drug Vioxx.
After payment of attorney fees and litigation costs, approximately $6.9 million of the settlement will support PA's prescription assistance program (PACE), which helps qualified seniors pay for medications they need.
The lawsuit alleged that Merck failed to disclose its studies, which showed the use of Vioxx increased the user's risk of serious illnesses, such as heart attack and stroke.
PACE benefits low income senior Pennsylvanians. For more information on PACE, please visit the Department of Aging’s PACE website at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/prescription_assistance/17942
