Merck Must Keep Facing Singulair Injury Suit in Massachusetts

Out-of-state drugmakers Merck & Co., Organon & Co., and affiliated companies are subject to a Massachusetts man’s suit alleging the asthma drug Singulair caused him to develop depression and suicidal thoughts, even if he used a generic equivalent, a federal judge in the state said.

Richard McLaughlin sued the companies (collectively, Merck) alleging his injuries stemmed from inadequate warnings.

Merck began selling brand-name Singulair in 1998. The Food and Drug Administration approved generic versions after the patent expired in 2012.

There would be “little question” that the court would have jurisdiction over the defendants had McLaughlin ingested the Merck ...