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Ashcraft & Gerel
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FOSAMAX AND OTHER BISPHOSPHONATES CAUSE OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAW OR ONJ
We're sorry, but we are no longer accepting new claims for Boniva and Actonel,
although we are still reviewing claims for Fosamax, Zometa and Aredia.
[Introduction: If you or a loved one had injuries consisting of osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ, you may have a lawsuit that should be pursued. Although our lawyers who handle Fosamax and other bisphosphonate lawsuits are located in Maryland (MD), Virginia (VA) and Washington, D.C. (DC), our drug litigation is national in scope, and our lawyers who handle these suits are prepared to file lawsuits and litigate Fosamax and bisphosphonate cases across the country. Therefore, regardless of what state you're from, please fill out our inquiry form on this web site or email us so that Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP can have a Fosamax or other bisphosphonate lawyer contact you to discuss your claim and the potential of a lawsuit.]
In order to balance the loss of bone density caused by disease, aging, or osteoporosis, many doctors prescribe a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates. These medications are commonly marketed as Fosamax, Aredia, Zometa, Boniva and
Actonel. The most common recipients of these types of drugs are women in their late
40's and older who have reached menopause and have begun to experience loss of bone density due to the aging process. In
addition, some chemotherapy treatments for cancer
that has advanced into the bones include bisphosphonates.
Use of these medications has recently been linked to cases of jaw bone decay or osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ or "dead jaw" is a rare bone disease in which the jaw bone deteriorates and dies. To repair jaw bone damage, a painful surgery is required to remove dying bone tissue. Side effects include jaw pain, numbness, exposed oral bones, loss of teeth, and infection.
The discovery of this link, published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, prompted both the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) and Novartis, the manufacturer of bisphosphonates used in cancer chemotherapy, to issue a warning letter
or alert on September 24, 2004 containing information about bisphosphonates and alerting health care professionals
to the dangers and risks of osteonecrosis of the jaw. There has not been a
recall and the drugs have not been withdrawn from the market.
Since 2001, more than 2,400 patients have reported bone death in their jaws after taking
one of these medications to prevent or treat bone loss. Most of these patients were taking potent, intravenously delivered forms of the
drugs. However patients taking the pill form have experienced ONJ as well. In many cases, those patients who were taking the drugs in pill form have suffered from such debilitating pain that they have become bedridden or in need of walkers, crutches or wheelchairs.
Fosamax Found to Pose Greater Risk of ONJ
Fosamax, one of the bisphosphonates noted above and manufactured by Merck & Co., was recently shown, in a study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to carry with it a higher incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw or ONJ than other bisphosphonates. There is also evidence to suggest that Merck may have failed to promptly update its Fosamax label to report the danger, thereby causing millions of users to be at an unnecessary risk of developing the condition.
The concern with these medications and Fosamax in particular lies in the huge
number of women taking these medications. Over 36 million women are taking them to prevent or slow osteoporosis. The number of women who use bisphosphonates has increased dramatically in recent years.
In the past, women relied on hormone replacement therapy to keep their bones healthy after menopause. But since recent studies linked estrogen with increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer, more women are taking Fosamax and other bisphosphonates at a younger age. Since these women use the medications for much longer time spans, they are at an increased risk of osteonecrosis
of the jaw or ONJ.
If you think you or a loved one may have suffered an injury or damages as a result of
taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonates, you owe it to yourself to speak to an experienced pharmaceutical attorney to see if you have a case and to discuss the possibility of bringing a lawsuit to recover for your damages and injuries. The attorney will be able to ascertain if you have a claim for which a lawsuit can be pursued and whether the case and lawsuit can be brought to a successful settlement, verdict, award or other recovery, and the experienced lawyer will be able to advise you on any deadlines for bringing your legal claim for damages. Please contact the law firm of Ashcraft and Gerel, LLP to discuss your case with an experienced drug or pharmaceutical lawyer in our Drug Litigation Department.
The lawyers at Ashcraft and Gerel, LLP have been leaders in pursuing lawsuits involving unsafe drugs, implants, and infusions. Our attorneys have successfully brought about verdicts, settlements, awards or other recoveries in lawsuits on behalf of clients who have been injured by Fen-Phen, Rezulin, Propulsid, Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), Baycol, breast implants and AIDS tainted blood.
Although some of these lawsuits resulted in class action settlements, class
actions are not the only way these cases are handled. The courts have devised
methods to deal with mass torts so that each lawsuit can benefit from
information and evidence gathered in other lawsuits nationwide and yet be
handled on an individual basis.
We have a toll free number to reach an attorney to answer your questions with regard to your specific case. That number is 1-800-829-7037. Please ask to speak to Robert Samet, and he will place you in touch with one of our drug litigation lawyers. If you would prefer, please feel free to
e-mail us or complete the
help inquiry form on this web site. Please be sure to include your name, address, telephone number (if you wish to be called), email address and the exact nature of your question, so that our lawyer can provide you with the specific information you seek.
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