Indeed. The empaneling of grand jury was widely-expected, on the VIOXX matter -- but it is a criminal inquiry, nonetheless:
. . . .The letter we received is in connection with an ongoing investigation into Merck's activities related to VIOXX. This investigation began in 2004, and includes subpoenas for information and documents from the company and for witnesses to appear before a grand jury. . . .
UPDATED 08.04.09
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Merck (per Page 58 of the just filed second quarter 2009 Form 10-Q) has not cleared most of the other governmental civil and criminal probes on Vioxx [nor any of the remaining civil and criminal probes related to Vytorin/Zetia (a product-responsibility it shares with Schering-Plough)]:
. . . .In March 2009, Merck received a letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts identifying it as a target of the grand jury investigation regarding Vioxx. Further, as previously disclosed, investigations are being conducted by local authorities in certain cities in Europe in order to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought concerning Vioxx. The Company is cooperating with these governmental entities in their respective investigations. . . . The Company cannot predict the outcome of these inquiries; however, they could result in potential civil and/or criminal dispositions. In addition, the Company received a subpoena in September 2006 from the State of California Attorney General seeking documents and information related to the placement of Vioxx on California’s Medi-Cal formulary. The Company is cooperating with the Attorney General in responding to the subpoena. . . .
Indeed.
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