HEALTH

Merck & Co. Suspends Schizophrenia Drug Test: The company said it has halted U.S. clinical trials of Roxiam after eight patients using the product in Europe developed a serious blood disorder that contributed to one death. The blood disorder, known as aplastic anemia, is a rare but potentially fatal condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce blood cells. Merck bought the U.S. marketing rights to the drug from Swedish drug maker Astra, which has been selling Roxiam in a handful of European countries for three years. No cause-and-effect relationship has been established between use of Roxiam and the blood disorder.