Merck & Co. could ultimately face up to 100,000 cases over its now-withdrawn arthritis drug Vioxx, the federal judge handling the pre-trial issues said Monday.

The Associated Press reported that U.S. District Court Judge Eldon Fallon told attorneys in the courtroom on Monday that “he could hear a case as early as the fall.”

Vioxx was withdrawn from the market by Merck in September 2004, after a study found that it increases a patients� risk of heart problems.

(via The Associated Press)