Judge Orders Merck to Produce Trial Database

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Merck & Co., Inc. has been ordered by a New Jersey judge to hand over its Clinical Trial Studies (CTS) database to counsel for plaintiffs who have sued the company alleging injury caused by Vioxx. In Re: VIOXX® Litigation, No. ATL-L-1567-03-MT (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

In an order and memorandum issued Nov. 15, Judge Carol E. Higbee of the Atlantic County Superior Court said the production of Merck's CTS database, with reasonable considerations for confidentiality, was necessary for plaintiffs to investigate claims that the company continued to market Vioxx despite knowing it could cause serious …