Irish solicitors to take on US drug firm

AN Irish firm of solicitors has teamed up with a major American law firm to begin what could become an international class action against drug company Merck, makers of the controversial painkiller, Vioxx.

According to analysts, Merck's Vioxx liability is likely to reach $38 billion (€28.1bn) and could go as high as $50bn (€37bn).

Last September, Merck announced a worldwide withdrawal of its arthritis and pain medication Rofecoxib, sold under the brand name Vioxx (or Ceoxx), because a study showed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.