Merck Sued In Another Fosamax Lawsuit

By Andrew Weatherford

Published on February 04, 2008

According to the plaintiff, the drug caused several stress fractures in her legs and prevented bone tissue from properly regrowing.

The lawsuit, filed this week, is not the first to involve Merck and Fosamax. Hundreds of patients have already sued the company over claims that Fosamax caused them to develop a condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw. Symptoms of this disease, in which jawbone tissue wastes away, include pain, numbness, and swelling. The condition can lead to fractures or infection and may require long-term treatment. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration ordered Merck to update Fosamax labels to include a warning about the disease.

A study published last year linked Fosamax with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, and the FDA last month warned that severe bone and joint pain has been associated with the drug. Despite the safety concerns, Merck recorded Fosamax sales of almost $3 billion in 2007.

The company has responded by saying that the case filed this week represents an isolated incident.

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