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Investing.com -- Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK)., the second-largest U.S. drugmaker by revenue, is facing a jury trial over accusations that it wrongfully marketed its profitable Gardasil cancer vaccine as safe. This is the latest high-risk litigation for the pharmaceutical behemoth.
A legal team representing a woman from Los Angeles will present their case on Monday. They will argue that Merck (NSE:PROR) misled consumers by exaggerating the benefits of the HPV vaccine and minimizing its risks. The vaccine is administered to protect against human papillomavirus, which has been linked by researchers to cervical and other cancers.
The jury will be tasked with determining whether Merck concealed side-effect reports from U.S. drug regulators who were assessing the vaccine's safety. They will also consider if the company launched deceptive marketing campaigns to transform the drug into a highly successful product. In 2023, Merck recorded over $8 billion in sales from Gardasil.
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