British Vioxx victims suffer major setback

After news that as many as 2,000 Britons died after taking the painkiller Vioxx, several solicitors in the country tried to file lawsuits on their behalf in the UK. But according to a recent decision, these victims will no longer be able to mount compensation claims in British courts. The insurance needed to pursue a claim on a no-win, no-fee basis has also been denied to these victims.

While they may still be able to pursue their cases in American courts, there will be many more challenges ahead for these victims.

In the meantime, Merck continues to face challenges of its own and has recently announced another round of layoffs to counter the setbacks from Vioxx litigation.