After playing a portion of the videotape to the jury, W. Mark Lanier, a lawyer for plaintiffs in the case, asked Dr. Nancy Santanello, a senior Merck scientist, why Merck had told its sales representatives that Vioxx did not cause heart attacks or raise blood pressure.

Dr. Santanello responded that at the time the training video was made, Merck did not know if Vioxx raised the risk of heart attacks. In addition, the tape does not show the actress actually denying that Vioxx raises blood pressure, Dr. Santanello said.

Instead, the actress merely sidesteps the issue, she said. Dr. Santanello's response appeared to take the jury aback.

"Is that how you train people to sell your product?" Mr. Lanier said.

Merck made the videotape in 2000, as it struggled to increase Vioxx sales despite concerns by doctors and independent scientists that the drug might damage the heart.

Merck stopped selling Vioxx last September after a clinical trial showed patients taking Vioxx had a substantially higher risk of heart attacks and strokes than those taking a placebo.