BIG PHARMA: FREE MARKET FAIRY VERSION

I've noted many times in the past how Big Pharma has repeatedly let us down (see here, here and here) and now I have another example:

Merck to pay $950 million to settle U.S. Vioxx charge
By Anna Yukhananov

Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:01pm EST

(Reuters) - Merck & Co will pay roughly $950 million to settle criminal and civil charges that it promoted the painkiller Vioxx for an unapproved use, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

The Justice Department alleged that Merck promoted the drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis before it had been approved for that condition by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.