ST. LOUIS (AP) — Merck & Co. Inc. has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Missouri consumers over its prescription pain reliever Vioxx in a deal that could cost the drugmaker up to $220 million, lawyers for the consumers said.

The agreement announced Thursday would settle claims that New Jersey-based Merck violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by promoting and selling Vioxx, which Merck pulled from the shelves eight years ago because of evidence that it doubled users’ chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

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