FDA Advisory Committee to Discuss Fosamax Femur Fractures

On Monday the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an upcoming meeting of its Public Advisory Committee over the safety of bisphosphonate drugs due to a growing body of evidence that suggests they can cause Fosamax femur fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

During a meeting scheduled for September 9, 2011 the FDA advisory committee will discuss the benefits and risks of  long-term use of the osteoporosis medications Fosamax, Actonel, Atelvia, Boniva, and Reclast. The event will be open to the public and anybody interested in attending can find background information at FDA.gov no later than two business days before the meeting. The location for the talks is the Marriott Inn and Conference Center at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) in Adelphi, Maryland.

The Fosamax femur fractures FDA meeting comes amidst an increasing number of lawsuits filed against Merck & Co., which has been accused of providing improper warning about the severe injuries which may result from taking Fosamax. Legal problems began for the drugmaker back in 2004, when Fosamax users began complaining of ONJ—a debilitating condition that can cause death of the jawbone—and filing dead jaw lawsuits. Beginning in 2006 hundreds of Fosamax ONJ cases were consolidated through a judicial mechanism known as multidistrict litigation (MDL), including one that settled last year for a reported  $8 million.

In 2008 new troubles surfaced for Merck with the publication of a study in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma that showed Fosamax users could suffer an atypical femur fracture (one that occurs with little or no trauma). This information has since led to approximately 100 Fosmax femur fracture lawsuits which obtained MDL status earlier this year and have been bolstered by a May 2011 study that associates Fosamax with abnormal thigh bone breaks.

The purpose of an FDA advisory committee is to provide the agency with independent, expert advice on drugs and medical devices. The committee may offer recommendations, but the FDA makes all final decisions. Among the matters an FDA advisory panel might make suggestions for (typically in the form of a vote by the committee’s members) are whether to approval a new drug, withdraw a medical device that’s already on the market, or update the labeling information for a product.

Regardless of the results of the September FDA advisory committee meeting, the Rottenstein Law Group is firmly convinced that Fosamax is a dangerous product responsible for injuries to thousands of users. Should you decide to take legal action against Merck, rest assured that science—and the law—are on your side.

RLG is offering free case reviews for those who suffered Fosamax femur fractures or ONJ after taking Merck’s osteoporosis drug. To find out whether you qualify for compensation for a fosamax femur fracture lawsuit , fill out this form or call 1 (877) 332-2347.