Pharmaceutical company Merck has known about the serious side effects associated with its drug Fosamax as early as 2004. The dangerous drug has been known to cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) after in-office dental procedures. However, many of the company employees showed shockingly little sympathy for affected patients, even going so far as to mock them in company emails with statements like “Ma toot hurts so bad.”
According to newly available information, an elaborate spin campaign was launched in the early 2000s when ONJ was first linked to Fosamax. Merck was primarily concerned with keeping its pill – which made $3 billion a year in profits – afloat. Thousands of lawsuits have already been filed on behalf of affected patients who developed ONJ after tooth extraction and other dental procedures because they took Fosamax.
According to dentists and oral surgeons, treating ONJ is nearly impossible, because further surgery only exacerbates the problem, leaving patients with even more exposed bone and potential disfigurement. Even short-term use of the drug can lead to ONJ in many patients.
If you have suffered the effects of ONJ or “jawbone death” after taking Fosamax, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact Wapner, Newman, Wigrizer, Brecher & Miller today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced drug injury lawyer.
