5 Most Fined Pharmaceutical Companies in the World

3. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)

Total fines incurred by the company from 2003 to 2016 (in millions): $3,739

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) used to be the American arm of the Germany drug company Merck Group, which was founded more than 350 years ago. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is involved in the production of vaccines, medicines, animal health products and biologic therapies. Some of its biggest brands are responsible for bringing in more than $1 billion in sales every year.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) was sued by 50,000 people who claimed that either they or their family members suffered from strokes or heart attacks after taking the drug Vioxx, and the company ended up paying over $4 billion in settlement claims. In 2000, a fraud investigation by the United States Department of Justice after allegations were brought forward that routinely overbilled Medicaid, with the company having to pay $650 million to settle the charges.