Bisphosphonate Lawsuit & News Blog

Watson to Distribute Alendronate Tablets

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 06:14:24 -0500

PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance, Tue, 05 Feb 2008 4:00 AM PST http://biz.yahoo.com/ prnews/080205/latu088.html?.v=101. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that the company expects to initiate shipments of alendronate sodium in the 35 and 70 mg once weekly dosage strengths when FosamaxÂ® loses market exclusivity, which is anticipated to occur at the close of business on February 6, 2008.

Trouble Brews Over Merck Product - FOSAMAX LAWSUITS MOVE FORWARD

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:44:55 -0500

Merck & Co.'s pending $4.85 billion Vioxx settlement is expected to bring more than three years of litigation to an end. But looming challenges to some top-selling products, including osteoporosis blockbuster Fosamax, threaten to keep the company under a cloud. see: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120165519331327133.html

Denosumab Osteoporosis Study Met Primary And All Secondary Bone Mineral Density Endpoints In A Head-to Head Comparison

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:56:15 -0500

Medical News Today, Mon, 28 Jan 2008 1:17 AM PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/95280.php
Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced findings from a head-to-head, double-blind study comparing the effects of twice-yearly subcutaneous injections of denosumab versus weekly oral doses of alendronate (FOSAMAX(R)) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. The study met primary and all secondary endpoints.

Suit Alleges More Health Problems From Merck's Fosamax Drug

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:32:18 -0500

A Connecticut woman has sued Merck & Co., claiming that its osteoporosis drug Fosamax caused multiple stress fractures and suppressed bone regeneration in her legs. JoAnn Moranski of Fairfield alleges in a complaint filed in New Jersey state court that she took the drug from 1996-2006. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120154745351022967.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Is Fosamax Safe?

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:02:19 -0500

Fosamax is a prescription drug prescribed to treat osteoporosis or thinning of the bones. The latest on Fosamax is that it is still considered to be safe. The legal problems are regarding a condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw. But these cases mainly involve cancer patients who had some form of dental problem or recent dental procedure. So while this needs to be considered, Fosamax is not a risk for the majority of people.

Caveat: Is Fosamax a sponsor of this TV station?

http://www.wnbc.com/health/13539501/detail.html

Fosamax: Why Women Resist Taking It

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:15:25 -0500

If you're like a 50 to 60 year old woman, your doctor has told you that since your bone mineral density (BMD) is low - you need to start taking medication to reduce your chances of bone fractures.

Last year doctors wrote more than 20 million prescriptions for Fosamax to the tune of almost $2 million.

Knowing the associated risks of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer for hormones; ulcers of the esophagus and stomach, and jaw decay for Fosamax - who among us wants to follow our doctors' orders?
Last month a study in the New England Journal of Medicine reinforced our concerns. The study found a possible link between the use of Fosamax and atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat -- a finding also suggested in earlier research.

Many 50 and 60-ish women are a lot less at risk than someone in their parents' generation. Why should women continue to line the pockets of big pharma just because our doctors believe the brainwash that they're fed?

Low bone density is only one of several well-established risk factors for bone fractures. Age and fracture history are just as important. None of these factors alone is very good at predicting fracture risk. But some doctors don't appear to have gotten the message.

Many younger women whose bone density is borderline low are getting treated, although their risk of fracture in the next five to 10 years is fairly low. Leave it to the big pharma to start brainwashing the young.
Later this year, the World Health Organization plans to finish sifting data from several international osteoporosis trials and publish a new fracture-risk tool. The tool will combine bone density with about 10 other risk factors to gauge an individual's risk.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061101927.html

FDA Dosage Changes - Fosamax

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 15:37:34 -0500

Health Advocates Concerned as FDA Approves New Dosage Strength of Fosamax : June 4, 2007. By Anne Borden, "Washington, DC: The FDA has approved a new dosage strength of Fosamax Plus D, despite an avalanche of lawsuits related to Fosamax and concerns among health advocates. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed related to Fosamax, Merck & Co.'s best-selling drug and one of the most prescribed drugs to increase bone density in patients with osteoporosis."

What should postmenopausal women do about aging bones?

Tue, 1 May 2007 10:12:06 -0500

Aging women already have a decrease in bone mass. Your doctor should ask questions about your lifestyle, medical history, and family history. Specialized tests called bone density tests, similar to an X-ray, can measure the bone density in various sites of the body, including the hip and spine. This test will detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, predict your chances of a fracture in the future, and determine your rate of bone loss.

Since osteoporosis is a leading cause of death and disability in women, prevention is advised. Hormone replacement therapy and Fosamax, a drug that helps prevent and reverse bone loss, are both good options. Calcium also is important, but isn't as useful without adding one of these drugs. The major side effects from Fosamax are nausea and indigestion. If you don't have a family history of osteoporosis, it may not advisable to take.

Eat a balanced diet rich in dark green vegetables, take vitamin D, and do plenty of weight-bearing exercise such as walking and light weight-lifting. Since tobacco interferes with estrogen, women who smoke will lose benefits from hormone replacement therapy and become menopausal earlier than nonsmokers.

souce: http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/11621.xml

Pharmaceutical company plans to tweak ingredients in Fosamax

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:11:18 -0500

Merrion Pharmaceuticals most advanced product is a tweak to the active ingredient in Fosamax, a leader in the multibillion-dollar world of osteoporosis treatments. Fosamax, which is owned by Merck, loses its U.S. patent protection next year.

Initial studies by Merrion show patients better absorb its tweaked version, reducing the required dosage.

Merrion also has potential treatments in the pipeline for bone cancer, prostate cancer, and deep-vein thrombosis. Proceeds from the stock sale will help fund clinical trials for these drugs.

Source: http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/NEWS/704240339/1002

AREDIA and ZOMETA PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION - Remand in New Jersey

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:39:44 -0500

Plaintiffs, Francine Scalamoni, Joseph Scalamoni, George Davis and Helen Davis
(hereinafter “Plaintiffs”) have filed a Consolidated Motion and Memorandum of Law for
Remand and Attorney’s Fees After Improvident Removal (Case No. 3:06-1166, Docket Entry
15, Exhibit 7). This Consolidated Motion was referred to the undersigned for Report and
Recommendation. (Case No. 3:06-MDL-1760, Docket Entry 217).

For the reasons stated below, the Magistrate Judge recommends that the Plaintiffs’
Consolidated Motion for Remand be GRANTED and that Plaintiffs’ causes of action be
REMANDED to New Jersey state court. Further, the Magistrate Judge recommends that
Plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees be DENIED.

The Magistrate Judge believes that the Defendant had an objectively reasonable basis for
seeking removal, when considering the combined effect of all of it’s arguments regarding
labeling as well as it’s novel argument regarding punitive damages. Therefore, the Plaintiffs are
not entitled to their attorneys’ fees and costs incurred as a result of the removal. 28 U.S.C. §
1447(c).

For the reasons stated above, the Magistrate Judge recommends that the Plaintiffs’
Consolidated Motion for Remand be GRANTED and that Plaintiffs’ causes of action be
REMANDED to New Jersey state court. Further, the Magistrate Judge recommends that
Plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees be DENIED.

...

Accordingly, the Consolidated Motion for Remand filed by Plaintiffs Francine Scalamoni,
Joseph Scalamoni, George Davis and Helen Davis in Case No. 3:06-1166 (Exhibit 7 to Docket No.
15) is GRANTED, and the causes of action of Plaintiffs Francine Scalamoni, Joseph Scalamoni,
George Davis and Helen Davis are remanded to the New Jersey state court. Plaintiffs’ Motion for
Attorney’s Fees After Improvident Removal (also Exhibit 7 to Docket No. 15 in Case No. 3:06-
1166) is DENIED.