keywords: vioxx merck earnings profit mrk
text: Merck Sees 2005 Profit Hurt by Vioxx Merck  amp; Co. Inc.(MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , reeling from the recent withdrawal of its Vioxx arthritis drug, on Wednesday reaffirmed its 2004 earnings outlook but said earnings in 2005 will be lower than analysts had expected.