Debilitating Side Effects of Fosamax Lead to Dozens of Legal Claims
Side Effects Fosamax: Following the publication of research that links Fosamax to abnormal femur fractures, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a new side effects Fosamax warning on packages of the drug last October. In addition, that same research has prompted dozens of legal claims against manufacturer Merck & Co., which is already bogged down defending accusations that Fosamax causes jaw bone degeneration. And as lawyers nationwide continue to evaluate and file femur fracture lawsuits against the drugmaker, there appears to be no rest in sight for Merck, which less than three years ago agreed to settle Vioxx lawsuits for a record amount. Contact us today so that we can put you in touch with the right law firm to protect your rights:
Research Into the Side Effects of Fosamax
The first study to identify Fosamax as a potential cause of abnormal femur fractures (those that occur after falls from standing height or less) was published in 2008 in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. It identified a pattern of femur fractures that was ninety-eight percent specific to Fosamax. Subsequent studies published by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) and researchers from the University of Maryland also concluded that the osteoporosis medication Fosamax was associated with the rare type of femur fracture. The FDA has stated that its investigation into the side effects of Fosamax on the thigh bone is ongoing, but based on the strength of available research it decided to include a new label with packages of Fosamax that describes the risk of atypical femur fractures.
Litigation Could Be Massive, Recoveries Significant
Currently, approximately 100 people have filed femur fracture lawsuits against Merck, but this number is expected to increase dramatically in the coming months. Lawsuits related to claims that Fosamax can cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) are in the late stages of litigation. One ONJ plaintiff recovered $8 million from Merck last year, though the vast majority of cases have yet to be decided. It should also be noted that because it can cause many different side effects, Fosamax lawsuits that stem from different types of injuries are not necessarily comparable in terms of recovery amounts. Merck, however, is no stranger to huge product liability payouts, as it agreed to settle tens of thousands of Vioxx lawsuits for a whopping $4.85 billion in 2008. And while this by no means implies that Fosamax femur fracture lawsuits will settle for a similar amount, it does show that product liability suits against Merck have the potential to be huge. Contact us today.
Fosamax users were administered the drug to strengthen their bones, but now are finding out that it may actually have the opposite effect. This certainly is not their fault—Merck alone is to blame for its products’ defects. Due to its severe side effects, Fosamax has caused pain and suffering for thousands of people. If you are one of them, let the teh right lawyers assist you in obtaining compensation through a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Best Legal Source will put you in touck with lawyers that have experience standing up for the rights of clients who have been injured at the hands of powerful corporations like Merck.