Widow Drops Vioxx Claims Weeks Before Philadelphia Trial

PHILADELPHIA - A New Jersey woman who alleged that Vioxx caused her husband's heart attack and death has dropped her claims against Merck & Co. Inc. five weeks before her trial was to begin in Philadelphia. McCool v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., No. 050902018 (Pa. Ct. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

On Jan. 16, Angela McCool filed a praecipe to discontinue in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, and Merck said in a Jan. 22 statement that McCool has agreed to voluntarily dismiss her lawsuit with prejudice.

According to Merck, the case was selected for trial by plaintiffs' …