Merck Sharp & Dohme, a unit of Merck & Co., pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of misbranding its painkiller drug Vioxx.  Merck agreed to pay a $321.6 million criminal fine and a $628.3 million civil settlement to resolve allegations that it marketed the drug for unapproved uses and concealed heart attack and stroke risks associated with the drug.  Merck has agreed to pay $4.85 billion to settle suits by patients allegedly injured as a result of Vioxx.

Read the entire article, “Merck Unit’s Plea Over Vioxx Investigation Accepted by Judge Saris”