NEW YORK (AP) — Merck and Schering-Plough say they will pay $41.5 million to settle class-action lawsuits filed by patients taking the cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia. The lawsuits claim that the companies purposefully delayed the release of study results showing the cholesterol treatments were no more effective than older, less expensive medications. The companies do not acknowledge any wrongdoing or liability as part of the settlement. The settlement deal comes while Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck & Co. is in the process of buying Kenilworth, N.J.-based Schering-Plough Corp. for $41.1 billion.
