Do You Think It Will Matter?

Does anyone think that the recent verdict against Merck in the Vioxx debacle will actually change anything (http://nytimes.com/2005/08/19/business/19WIRE-VIOXX.html?hp&ex=1124510400&en=af023750cecde6fa&ei=5094&partner=homepage). This is only a harbinger of things to come. An avalanche of further lawsuits are pending and this $253 million verdict will certainly have repercussions for the next few years. I suppose this is an example of the system responding to the overwhelming influence of Pharma on health care. I guess only time will tell if any longlasting effects will occur. I'd like to solicit any opinions from the readers as to what people think will be the longterm effects, if any, of this lawsuit?