Fosamax lawsuits are personal injury cases in which patients who have been injured after taking the osteoporosis medication Fosamax seek compensation for their injuries and losses from Merck, the maker of Fosamax. While Fosamax (generically Alendronate) has been found in clinical trials to reduce the total number of new spinal fractures in osteoporosis patients, further research has found that use of Fosamax can result in a range of serious side effects, including:
- heart arrhythmia
- femur fractures
- ulcers in the esophagus
- osteonecrosis of the jaw (“ONJ” or dead jaw), an incurable condition marked by the breakdown of the jaw bone, namely the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
- Steven-Johnson’s Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (TEN), conditions in which the epidermis (the top layer of skin) detaches from the dermis (the lower layer of skin) while also causing the development of ulcers and lesions on the body’s mucous membranes, particularly those in the eyes, nose, mouth and genitals. SJS is diagnosed as TEN when between 10 and 30 percent of the body is affected by symptoms.
Should Fosamax patients develop any of these side effects, they will have a valid defective drug claim against Merck, and they can win the compensation they deserve by following through with Fosamax litigation.
News about Recent Fosamax Lawsuits
Merck is currently facing about 900 Fosamax lawsuits. While this number only represents a small fraction of those who have sustained serious Fosamax side effects, many more are expected to be filed in the coming months and years as public awareness of this defective drug grows. The following are some highlights in the history of Fosamax litigation in U.S. courts:
- In 2006, a Florida class action Fosamax lawsuit was filed against Merck alleging that a number of individuals had developed ONJ as a result of taking Fosamax.
- In 2007, a Canadian class action Fosamax lawsuit was filed on behalf of patients with “dead jaw.” In response to this lawsuit, Merck established a $48 million fund for the purpose of paying off ONJ claims.
- Within 2008 alone, more than 100 new Fosamax lawsuits were filed in federal and state courts. Later that year, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York sent many federal Fosamax cases back to state courts and ordered Merck to cover the taxes and related costs of transferring these cases.
Despite Merck’s continuing claims that Fosamax is safe, more than 2,400 individuals have died from Fosamax ONJ, and thousands more have suffered permanent disabilities. Those injured as a result of taking Fosamax are encouraged to learn more about their legal rights and entitlements by attending a complimentary initial consultation with a skilled Fosamax lawyer.
If you or a loved one have used Fosamax and suffered from any side effect including ONJ, TMJ, SJS, or TEN, you should contact us immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.
