Merck Shareholder Drops Suit Against Execs Over Gardasil Demand

Merck & Co. Inc. managers escaped allegations that they hurt the pharmaceutical giant by misleading investors over traction for its HPV vaccine in China.

The plaintiff told Judge Julien Xavier Neals of the US District Court for the District of New Jersey it’s dropping the shareholder derivative action, which is a lawsuit filed on behalf of a company against its corporate leaders. The Vladimir Gusinsky Revocable Trust filied for dismissal without prejudice, retaining the ability to refile claims that current and former executives and board members harmed Merck’s reputation and wallet in issuing misleading statements about its ability to assess ...