Merck extended the deadlines to allow claimants and their counsel additional time to complete the enrollment process and for the claims administrator and the company to continue to verify the completeness and compliance of enrollment materials received so far.
The resolution program is progressing in an appropriate manner. Because of the large number of enrollments received so far, Merck is confident that when enrollments are verified, all 85% thresholds will be met and exceeded. The meeting of the thresholds with enrollment documents in compliance with the settlement agreement would obligate Merck to pay $4.85 billion in installments into the resolution fund.
The thresholds are, 85% or more of all eligible myocardial infarction claims, 85% or more of all eligible ischemic stroke claims, 85% or more of all eligible claims claiming death as an injury, and 85% or more of all eligible claims alleging more than 12 months of use.