Fosamax class action lawsuit filed in Canada
A Canadian law firm has filed a Fosamax class action lawsuit against Merck Frosst Canada, the manufacturer of the popular osteoporosis drug in Canada. The suit was filed because the drug maker failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about the risks of developing decay of the jaw bone. In the United States, individual Fosamax lawsuits are being pursued by hundreds of users who have been diagnosed with the painful condition, known as Osteonecrosis of the Jaw.
>>INFORMATION: Fosamax Lawsuits
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, also known as “jaw death” or ONJ, can cause the jaw bone to decay and die. Several thousand users have been diagnosed with the condition after taking Fosamax for treatment of osteoporosis or Paget’s disease.
According to the Fosamax class action lawsuit, the manufacturers were aware of the increased risk users faced of developing Osteonecrosis of the Jaw as a side effect of Fosamax, yet they failed to provide information to users and physicians which would allow them to make an informed decision about whether the benefits of the osteoporosis drug outweighed the danger of jaw problems.
Fosamax was approved in Canada in 1995, the same year it was approved in the United States. A Merck spokesperson has confirmed that the company received reports of the rare jaw condition in patients using Fosamax in 2003, but it is likely that they were aware of the problems earlier. In March 2005, the warning label for Fosamax was updated in Canada to include a warning about osteonecrosis of the jaw, after Health Canada ordered the label update. The warning label was updated in the United States in July 2005, after a similar request from the U.S. FDA.
FOSAMAX LAWSUITS IN THE UNITED STATES
The Fosamax Lawyers at Saiontz, Kirk & Miles, P.A. have been representing users of the osteoporosis medication since 2006. Lawsuits are being pursued for users in the United States who have been diagnosed with Osteonecrosis of the Jaw after using Fosamax. If you, a friend or family member believe you may have a claim, request a free claim evaluation.
