Merck, Novo Nordisk Spared From 1,500 Suits Over Diabetes Drug

Consumers suing Merck & Co., Novo Nordisk A/S and other makers of diabetes drugs allegedly linked to pancreatic cancer are dropping their complaints, according to an email seen by Bloomberg.

The decision, revealed in an email to clients from an attorney involved in the litigation, will spare the company from facing more than 1,500 lawsuits. It comes after a judge last year barred the plaintiffs’ experts from testifying about any cancer link, a ruling that was upheld on appeal late last month.

The committee of plaintiffs’ lawyers leading the cases over drugs such as Merck’s Januvia and Novo’s Victoza ...