From Reuters Health - Mar 03, 2008 - Merck said more than 93 percent of the 47,000 people who allege the arthritis drug Vioxx caused their heart attack or stroke have submitted claims in the company's settlement offer.

Of some 47,000 people who registered eligible injuries, about 44,000 submitted some or all of the documents that could qualify them for an interim payment in the program to resolve state and federal heart attack and stroke claims filed in the United States, Merck said.

Merck withdrew arthritis pill Vioxx from the market in 2004 after research found it doubled heart attack and stroke risk.

Its settlement agreement with people alleging injury from the drug calls for the company to meet an 85 percent threshold for receiving enrollment documents in various claims categories.

Meeting the threshold obligates Merck to pay $4.85 billion in installments into a resolution fund.