Fosamax Femur Fracture Lawsuits
3/8/2010
Fosamax, manufactured by Merck, is a bisphosphonate medication prescribed to treat osteoporosis and bone loss. A medical study in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma links Fosamax to a rare type of fracture in the femur. The small, observational study looked at 70 patients who experienced low-energy femur fractures, which occur when someone falls from a standing height or less. Twenty-five patients (36%) were taking Fosamax on average for four years or more. The Fosamax patients' fractures had some distinct characteristics: nineteen (76%) of the 25 patients had a simple fracture with a straight line across the bone and a beak-like overhang on one side. Also, the patients' bones didn't look like typical osteoporotic bone; they looked strong.
Merck Disagrees with Fosamax Fracture Femur Medical Study
Merck pointed out that Fosamax and other bisphosphonates have been shown to decrease the risk of a type of femur fractures common in patients with osteoporosis. In a statement on the new study, Merck said that “a causal association with bisphosphonates and either the fracture pattern or the frequency of these fractures has not been established by the authors.”
Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is an osteoporosis drug prescribed millions of people to reduce the risk of fractures, primarily involving the hip. About 1,000 Fosamax lawsuits have already been filed by users of this drug who experienced a rare decay of the jawbone after taking the medication, known as osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ. However, more and more doctors and medical experts are now noticing a possible connection between non-impact femur fractures and broken bones from Fosamax.
An ABC News and World Report aired last night (3/9/10) discussing the stories of several women who have experienced these spontaneous broken bones and fractures after using the Fosamax for several years. Research into the Fosamax femur fracture side effects suggest that prolonged use of the osteoporosis drug may overly suppress bone metabolism, impacting the ability of the bone to repair microdamage to the femur (thigh bone), which is one of the strongest in the body.
The ABC report highlights how users and the medical community have not been adequately warned about the risk of femur fracture from Fosamax. The FDA told ABC that they are looking into the reports of bone breaks with Fosamax, and Merck issued a statement for the report denying that any causal connection has been established.
Here is the Fosamax femur fracture video from ABC News Good Morning America:
It should be pointed out that there are already hundreds of cases, all consolidated in what is known as Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), for discovery and pretrial purposes in the Southern District of New York, in which the lawyers at Mitzner & Osborn are participating. We will be trying the next case there.
Call attorneys actually involved in the case, not attorneys who refer cases to us. 1-800-725-3505.
These cases involve claims that Fosamax caused osteonecrosis of the jaw. By our participation, we have acquired thousands of documents coming from discovery efforts of plaintiffs’ counsel through the MDL.
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