Bisphosphonate FAQ's
What are bisphosphonates?
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that drug companies claim promote bone regeneration. Bisphosphonates are commonly sold under various brand names including Fosamax®, Actonel®, Aredia® and Zometa®. These drugs are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Novartis, Proctor & Gamble and Sanofi-Aventis. Bisphosphonates are used to treat, among other things, osteoporosis, bone metastasis during cancer treatment, osteoarthritis and other conditions that feature bone fragility. Studies show that bisphosphonate treatment can cause severe side-effects.
What are the possible side-effects of bisphosphonate treatment?
Studies show that the most commonly reported side-effects of bisphosphonate treatment are: 1) Osteonecrosis of the Jaw; and 2) low-trauma bone fractures.
What is Osteonecrosis of the Jaw?
Studies show that Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) or Bisphosphonate Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BONJ) is a disease where the jawbone does not heal from injury. This disease has also been known as Dead Jaw, Fossy Jaw or Phossy Jaw. Usually, the disease is prefaced by a simple dental procedure or other trauma to the jawbone. Thereafter, the jaw quickly becomes infected and all or a portion of the jawbone can actually die and/or fracture and be painfully thrust through the skin and gums.
What are low-trauma bone fractures?
Studies show that low-trauma bone fractures generally occur as a result of a fall from standing height or less, where the bone breaks in an unusual, horizontal pattern. Such fractures have been found to generally occur in the femur (thigh) bone. However, bone necrosis and bone brittleness have also been reported to have been found, though much more rarely, in other parts of the body.
What is the status of currently pending litigation against bisphosphonate manufacturers?
Currently, a large number of cases against bisphosphonate manufacturers have been designated as Mass Tort or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) cases. Mass Tort cases (in State courts) and MDL’s (in federal courts) are methods of organizing and managing cases involving the same or similar injuries and common defendants. These methods of case management offer an expedient, cost-effective manner for the plaintiffs to pursue their claims.
How can Stark & Stark help you?
Stark & Stark’s Mass Tort/Pharmaceutical Litigation Team pursues claims against drug manufacturers so they can be held accountable when the drugs they market are proven to be defective or cause catastrophic injury to the people who use them. If you feel you have experienced any of the above side-effects from taking bisphosphonates, you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort/ Pharmaceutical Litigation attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any claims that you might have against bisphosphonate manufacturers.
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that drug companies claim promote bone regeneration. Bisphosphonates are commonly sold under various brand names including Fosamax®, Actonel®, Aredia® and Zometa®. These drugs are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Novartis, Proctor & Gamble and Sanofi-Aventis. Bisphosphonates are used to treat, among other things, osteoporosis, bone metastasis during cancer treatment, osteoarthritis and other conditions that feature bone fragility. Studies show that bisphosphonate treatment can cause severe side-effects.
What are the possible side-effects of bisphosphonate treatment?
Studies show that the most commonly reported side-effects of bisphosphonate treatment are: 1) Osteonecrosis of the Jaw; and 2) low-trauma bone fractures.
What is Osteonecrosis of the Jaw?
Studies show that Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) or Bisphosphonate Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BONJ) is a disease where the jawbone does not heal from injury. This disease has also been known as Dead Jaw, Fossy Jaw or Phossy Jaw. Usually, the disease is prefaced by a simple dental procedure or other trauma to the jawbone. Thereafter, the jaw quickly becomes infected and all or a portion of the jawbone can actually die and/or fracture and be painfully thrust through the skin and gums.
What are low-trauma bone fractures?
Studies show that low-trauma bone fractures generally occur as a result of a fall from standing height or less, where the bone breaks in an unusual, horizontal pattern. Such fractures have been found to generally occur in the femur (thigh) bone. However, bone necrosis and bone brittleness have also been reported to have been found, though much more rarely, in other parts of the body.
What is the status of currently pending litigation against bisphosphonate manufacturers?
Currently, a large number of cases against bisphosphonate manufacturers have been designated as Mass Tort or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) cases. Mass Tort cases (in State courts) and MDL’s (in federal courts) are methods of organizing and managing cases involving the same or similar injuries and common defendants. These methods of case management offer an expedient, cost-effective manner for the plaintiffs to pursue their claims.
How can Stark & Stark help you?
Stark & Stark’s Mass Tort/Pharmaceutical Litigation Team pursues claims against drug manufacturers so they can be held accountable when the drugs they market are proven to be defective or cause catastrophic injury to the people who use them. If you feel you have experienced any of the above side-effects from taking bisphosphonates, you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort/ Pharmaceutical Litigation attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any claims that you might have against bisphosphonate manufacturers.
