Another trial involving Fosamax and its alleged role in osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is now under way in New York, according to an article in the New York Times.
Judith Graves, a 67-year-old retired investigator for the U.S. Army, claims she developed ONJ after taking Fosamax and is suing Merck, the manufacturer of the bisphosphonate drug, which is regularly used to treat osteoporosis.
Graves told the Times that she did not have osteoporosis when her doctor prescribed Fosamax in 2001. After a tooth extraction in 2003, the left side of her lower jaw began to deteriorate. She underwent several operations to replace her jaw, first with a titanium implant and bone from her left arm, followed by additional implants when the first failed.
Merck contends that Graves took other prescription medications, including steroids to treat her rheumatoid arthritis, that weakened her immune system and led to her ONJ.
Merck is currently facing more than 1,000 similar lawsuits. The first case to be tried, Maley v. Merck, resulted in a defense verdict for Merck on May 5, 2010. In a subsequent case, however, a jury awarded the plaintiff $8 million. Last month, however, a judge reduced the award to $1.5 million.
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