Merck & Co. Defends Fosamax

With cases against the drug Fosamax mounting, manufacturer Merck & Co. has had to come forward to defend their drug and other similar drugs on the market. They've made a convincing case against the studies reporting serious side effects due to Fosamax use, but new patients with problems are coming forward every day to file Fosamax lawsuits against the company. With so many contradicting reports, it can be difficult for patients and even doctors to determine whether or not this medication's benefits still outweigh the risks. Is Merck & Co. right to stand behind their product or do steps need to be taken to get this drug off the market?

Do You Have a Jawbone Deterioration Lawsuit? »

Fosamax is used or has been used in the past by millions of patients. The vast majority of these patients are elderly women who use the drug to treat osteoporosis, but it has also been prescribed to men and younger women. Fosamax treats all kind of bone disease and bone cancers, and in the past some of the symptoms of this drug have been attributed to the underlying medical conditions. Today, new studies indicate that Fosamax itself causes these problems.

What problems are patients reporting? Fosamax treats bone problems by destroying the cells that break down bones but in some cases, it can do its job too well, causing the bone to overdevelop and destroy bone marrow. Typically, the jaw is the affected part of the body, and a condition known as dead jaw develops. As reported by the Fosamax lawsuits, dead jaw starts with pan and swelling and leads to exposed bone, loose teeth, and, eventually, bone death. Patients who have had unrelated dental work, especially tooth extractions, are most at risk.

Merck & Co. has called the Fosamax dead jaw studies by the American Dental Association unreliable, citing flaws in their methodology. While the ADA has reported a 4% increased risk after studying just over 200 patients who use Fosamax, Merck's own studies have revealed that the risks are negligible. They reportedly studied over 17,000 patients, none of whom developed dead jaw, which is also called osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ. Some preliminary studies also link Fosamax to osteonecrosis of other parts of the body like the hips and shoulders.

More alarming than the osteonecrosis studies, however, are the reports that link Fosamax and cancer. Merck has never hidden the fact that Fosamax could cause inflammation of the esophageal lining, but new reports are investigating whether this inflammation could lead to tumors. Worldwide, there have been almost 50 cases of Fosamax patients developing esophageal cancer, and many of these patients have died. Merck has defended their drug claiming that the risk of cancer is so small that it is negligible.

Contact Our Fosamax Lawyers Today »

Doctors agree that more studies need to be done before Fosamax can be condemned, as it is still one of the best drugs on the market to combat osteoporosis. Still, Merck will be facing tough times in the future, as Fosamax lawsuits continue to multiply. If you have been dealing with cancer or dead jaw and believe it may be linked to your use of Fosamax, lawyer options are available to help you determine your legal rights.

Talk to a Lawyer