The jury in the product liability case of Kozic v. Merck has found in favor of Merck, rejecting a claim that it was liable for a heart attack suffered by Refik Kozic, a former professional soccer player.

Kozic had alleged that he used Vioxx for approximately nine weeks before suffering his heart attack at age 50 in April 2001.

Kozic had atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease in the vessels, high cholesterol and other risk factors that supply blood to the heart, including the vessel where the heart attack actually occurred, according to the Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck.

Currently, there are approximately 24,000 cases pending for 42,000 plaintiffs relating to Vioxx.