Multidistrict Panel Grants Motion to Create State Vioxx MDL

AUSTIN, Texas - A Multidistrict Litigation Panel in Texas has granted a motion by Merck & Co. to transfer approximately 50 Vioxx cases to a single, state court district judge. In Re: Vioxx Litigation, No. 05-0436 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

The Supreme Court's MDL panel granted the motion Aug. 25, more than two months after the drug manufacturer filed a Rule 13 motion to consolidate and transfer the claims.

In its petition, Merck argued that the cases all shared common issues of fact related to the company's development, state of knowledge, and pre-and post-approval testing of Vioxx. The June 6 petition …