The investigator hired by Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) to examine the company's conduct regarding Vioxx has come back, after 20 months and $21 million, with his verdict: they handled it more or less perfectly.
Former federal judge, John S. Martin Jr. of the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, stated that the investigation was totally independent and "the report is essentially a very positive report," according to this NY Times article.
The lawyer for the plaintiffs, Mark Lanier, said the report is basically a whitewash and contained no new information and was prepared to bouy up the company's defense in the civil suits.
Merck stopped selling Vioxx in September 2004 after a clinical trial showed the drug could cause heart attacks and strokes. More than 30,000 people have sued the company, contending that Vioxx caused heart problems.
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