Vytorin Cholesterol Pill

Merck has agreed to settle two class-action lawsuits filed in 2008 against it and Schering-Plough Corp. (which Merck has since acquired) over its cholesterol medication Vytorin.  The settlement is for a whopping $688 million.  The two lawsuits were filed by shareholders of the companies and alleged, among other things, that the companies made false and misleading statements regarding the effectiveness and economic success of the drug in press releases and other public disclosures.