By Marilyn T. McGoldrick, Esq.
Posted on April 9, 2013
After the first Fosamax fractured femur trial ended in mistrial because of the plaintiff’s unrelated illness, a 58-year old New York woman is bringing Merck to court over a broken femur suffered after she bent to pick something up in her driveway. First approved for sale in U.S. in 1995, Merck sold billions of dollars’ worth of Fosamax annually until 2008 when its patent protection ended. Intended as a treatment for osteoporosis – a disease that decreases bone density – Fosamax may have the opposite of the intended effect on bones, making them more brittle and prone to fracture. A 2010 report in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research showed that approximately 290 of 310 patients with an atypical femur fracture had also been taking a Fosamax-type drug.
There are now more than 3000 Fosamax femur fracture lawsuits pending against New Jersey-based Merck. In addition, more than 1000 lawsuits allege that Fosamax caused injuries to those users’ jaws. It is estimated that Fosamax can be present in the body for up to 10 years after it is taken.
If you have questions about a fracture that may be related to your use of Fosamax, call Thornton Law Firm at 888-341-1405 to speak with an experienced Fosamax attorney. Thornton Law Firm has represented thousands of individuals in actions related to their use of defective pharmaceuticals or medical devices.
