Merck woes deepen as federal appeals court nixes drug patent News
Merck woes deepen as federal appeals court nixes drug patent

[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit [official website] ruled [PDF opinion] Friday that the patent for the once-a-week version of Fosamax [medical information], the second best selling drug produced by Merck & Co. [corporate website], is invalid. Fosamax currently dominates the market for treatment of osteoporosis. Under the ruling, generic competitors could release their version of the drug within three years rather than waiting until 2018. Fosamax has been lucrative for Merck, with 2004 sales totaling $3.16 billion. The ruling came the say day that Merck formally acknowledged it was under investigation by the SEC in connection with its withdrawal of arthritis blockbuster Vioxx [JURIST report] after research studies found it to be dangerous [Vioxx consumer info]. After heavy trading on the NYSE Friday, Merck shares were down 11.8 percent. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.