News[JURIST] Pharmaceutical giant Merck and Co., maker of the recalled pain reliever drug Vioxx, said Monday it had been served a subpoena by the US Department of Justice and that it is also the subject of an inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Merck began a voluntary worldwide withdrawal of the drug, which had entered the market in 1999, on September 30, 2004. As of October 31, Merck says it has been named in about 375 lawsuits, including state consumer fraud and fair business practice cases. Merck maintains a website on its voluntary Vioxx withdrawal here. Reuters has more.
