The record
Key facts
Fact 01
$4.85B — Vioxx global settlement (2007); shares rose on announcement
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-11-09/merck-shares-rise-on-4-85-billion-vioxx-accord
Fact 02
826 / 129 — Zostavax / Gardasil pending cases per the JPML report of July 1, 2026
Source: https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/
The entity
Record
Merck's Vioxx litigation remains a foundational case study: after withdrawing the drug in 2004, Merck initially vowed to try every case, won most early trials, then settled globally for $4.85 billion in 2007 — and its shares ROSE on the announcement, an early demonstration that markets price certainty over headline cost.
Today Merck defends two vaccine MDLs: Zostavax (MDL-2848, E.D. Pa., 826 pending cases as of July 2026, substantially reduced by dispositive rulings) and Gardasil (MDL-3036, W.D.N.C., Judge Kenneth D. Bell, 129 pending), where defense rulings have narrowed claims. Both dockets illustrate that MDL consolidation is not a verdict — defendants win these fights regularly.
All current-litigation claims remain allegations until adjudicated; the record above reflects court filings and verified reporting.
Public-record events
Timeline
| Date | Event | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2026 | Other | Zostavax MDL at 826 pending; Gardasil MDL at 129 pending. ↗ |
| Nov 9, 2007 | Settlement | Vioxx global settlement: $4.85B; Merck shares rise ~2% on announcement. ↗ |
Sources & attribution