Merck, which has been slowly whittling down the number of Vioxx lawsuits it is facing, said it’s agreed “in principle” to settle 190 claims made by unions and insurers for $80 million. Vioxx was a widely used painkiller before Merck pulled it from the market in 2004, after it was linked to cardiovascular problems. Merck has faced tens of thousands of lawsuits. It settled many of them last year, for $4.85 billion . The company, which disclosed the tentative $80 million settlement in a securities filing this morning, took a charge in the second quarter to cover the potential cost. The deal would resolve allegations that unions and insurers overpaid for Vioxx because they weren’t properly informed of the drug’s alleged risks. It wouldn’t clear Merck’s plate

of Vioxx claims, however. The company still faces others , including 18 lawsuits filed by states, counties, New York City and private parties alleging that Merck “misrepresented” Vioxx’s safety, according to the filing. In a statement, a Merck spokeswoman confirmed that the company has had some settlement discussions with lawyers but declined to comment beyond what was said in the securities filing. Bonus Merck : Also in the filing, Merck disclosed it has ended development of heart-failure treatment rolofylline. In June, the company said it wouldn’t seek approval for the drug this year, after preliminary results from a key study indicated the drug failed to meet targets. Photo: Associated Press

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Merck Tentatively Agrees to $80 Million Vioxx Settlement