Lucchesi's testimony is to continue tomorrow, followed by Merck's cross-examination.
Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, withdrew Vioxx from the market last September after its own research showed the popular arthritis drug doubled risk of heart attack and stroke after 18 months' use. The drug giant faces more than 5,000 lawsuits filed in state and federal courts -- about half of them in New Jersey state courts -- by former Vioxx users alleging the medicine harmed them.
The first trial ended last month when the jury in the Texas case stunned Merck with a US$253 million liability verdict, although that will be slashed to about US$26 million because Texas caps punitive damages. Merck plans to appeal. Lucchesi testified against Merck in that trial.
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