In a civil case now pending New York, a woman is suing Merck, the maker of Fosamax. She claims that that Fosamax had caused such debilitating jawbone deterioration that the Plaintiff has now required five major operations, including a lengthy surgery to replace her broken jaw with bone from her left arm.
Merck has defended itself, arguing that the plaintiff took other prescriptions — like steroids to treat rheumatoid arthritis — that weakened her immune system, leading to her jaw infection and healing problems.
The NY Times article is a good one discussing the elements of this next trial, and you can read the rest right here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/health/11bone.html?_r=1&hp
