Merck Faces Liability Lawsuit from 18 Patients over Shingles Vaccine

Eighteen patients filed a lawsuit against Merck, claiming its shingles vaccine Zostavax caused them to contract shingles and, in two cases, to develop persistent nerve pain related to the virus.

The complaint accused Merck of failing to exercise care in designing, labeling and distributing the vaccine. In addition, the company did not provide sufficient warning of risks and reactions associated with Zostavax, and downplayed those risks in promoting the product, the complaint said.

The plaintiffs are claiming the company violated the FD&C Act by failing to revise its labeling after receiving “reasonable evidence” of associated risk.