快一个billion了... http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/merck_to_pay_950m_sett
NEW YORK — Merck said today it will pay nearly $1 billion to resolve
criminal charges and civil claims related to its marketing of Vioxx, a
widely used pain medicine the giant drug maker pulled from the market in
2004.
As part of the settlement, Merck pleaded guilty to a violation of the Food
and Drug and Cosmetic Act for promoting Vioxx as a treatment for rheumatoid
arthritis before regulators approved the medicine for that use. The company
will pay a fine of $322 million resulting from the misdemeanor charge.
