How would you feel if you were harmed by a medicine you took as prescribed and then learned that the drug company wasn’t liable — even though it knew about the risk and didn’t tell you or your doctor?
This is exactly what has happened in the case of Fosamax (alendronate), a drug used to treat bone-thinning osteoporosis and osteopenia. After it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and women across the country began taking the drug, the FDA and its maker, Merck, started receiving reports about spontaneous fractures of the thigh bone among women taking the drug.
These fractures, dubbed “Fosamax fractures,” happen with no warning and usually require surgery. Although they are a rare side effect of the drug, millions of women have taken the drug. While the true number of Fosamax fractures isn’t known, about 500 women have sued Merck for failing to warn them about the risk of this painful and possibly debilitating side effect. These lawsuits are at the heart of a case, Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp. v. Doris Albrecht, et al., that will be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 7, 2019.
MedShadow Foundation, the nonprofit organization I founded in 2012 to inform the public about the side effects of medicines, along with three former FDA officials, filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Albrecht, the defendant in the case. Such “friend of the court” briefs are filed by individuals or organizations that aren’t parties in a case.
Merck acknowledges that Fosamax caused these fractures and that the company knew about them. In 2008, Merck started the process to get the FDA’s permission to put a warning on the drug label — the inserts that come with all medicines, providing information such as instructions on how to take a drug, what it can be used for, and warnings. The FDA reviews and must approve any information on drug labels for accuracy. These labels are generally considered fair warning to users about possible side effects or adverse events and, in that way, provides legal protection for drug companies from being sued for causing them.
The FDA relies on manufacturers to update and make changes to drug labels throughout the lives of their drugs. That’s because approvals for new drugs are often based on small clinical trials of 1,000 or fewer people that normally last less than a year. Unusual or rare side effects and can’t be detected in such small, short-term trials. Once a drug is approved and thousands or millions of people are taking it, new side effects and adverse events can emerge.
The spontaneous fractures caused by Fosamax didn’t begin appearing until the drug had been on the market for five years. And these fractures aren’t the only significant bone problems linked to the drug. Cases of osteonecrosis (literally “bone death”) of the jaw, a painful condition where jaw bones become exposed, were reported by people taking Fosamax. In 2013, Merck agreed to pay $27.7 million to settle 1,140 lawsuits from individuals who alleged that Fosamax caused them to develop this condition.
Pharmaceutical companies have the best access to reports of adverse events, and they pay attention to updating drug labels as an important patient-protection safeguard.
When Merck applied to the FDA for a label change to reflect these fractures, the FDA rejected its request. Why? Because Merck described them as stress fractures, which are minor and quite different from far more serious spontaneous fractures. A stress fracture is an incomplete bone break that is generally treated by rest and inactivity. A spontaneous fracture is a complete break that occurs in a seemingly normal bone without any trauma and must often be repaired with surgery.
Although drug companies are responsible for updating labels, the FDA can require updates. In 2010, the FDA convened a panel to review the increasing number of reports of Fosamax-related spontaneous fractures. After reviewing the research, the panel found a clear connection between Fosamax and spontaneous thigh bone fractures. The FDA then ordered Merck to change the label.
The women suing Merck claim that the company failed to warn them about a known adverse event. Merck is claiming that the FDA did not allow the company to change the label, making it impossible for Merck to warn women or their doctors.
If Merck prevails, the disingenuous tactic it used for Fosamax could be replicated by other pharmaceutical companies and have far-reaching effects.
Suppose a pharmaceutical company discovers that one of its drugs causes a serious adverse event. The company files an application for a change to the drug label, but knowingly designs the change so the FDA won’t accept it — either by minimizing the risk of the adverse event or by not accurately reflecting the risk. The drug company could then claim it isn’t liable for not warning consumers about that adverse event because the FDA denied the label change.
If the Supreme Court allows drug companies to circumvent the law this way — which is what Merck is attempting to do in this case — it would remove the motivation for pharmaceutical companies to provide the FDA with timely and transparent information.
MedShadow Foundation is a small nonprofit with limited resources. Yet we have taken on the costly and time-consuming process of filing an amicus brief because we believe that pharmaceutical companies cannot be allowed to obscure the risks, side effects, and adverse events of drugs — or exaggerate their benefits.
The foundation’s mission is to protect quality of life by ensuring that people have all the known information about side effects before deciding to take a prescription or over-the-counter drug. Today, pharmaceutical companies are motivated to reveal previously unknown risks and warn the medical community so they can’t be sued for damages. The FDA and the law must maintain that obligation to protect people from unnecessary harm.
There will always be some risk with medicines, but consumers have the right to all the information about benefits and risks of drugs — whenever that information is discovered — so they can make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Suzanne Robotti is the founder and president of MedShadow Foundation and the executive director of DES Action USA. She is also the consumer representative on the FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee. MedShadow Foundation does not accept funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies.
I had both femur fractures. I cannot believe the drug company has not taken responsibility for these fractures.
My 86 year old mother (with osteoporosis) is status post 30 days from a partial hip replacement (she fell in her yard feeding the birds). At her primary care visit her MD prescribed Alendronate 70 mg once a week; I believe this is Fosamax. Reading these comments, gives me great pause. My mom is recovering at an amazing rate and rarely uses her walker. I would like to hold off on her starting this medication (she has no other co-morbidities) if at all possible. I like the recommendation for increased D3, Magnesium, and Calcium. Is there any harm if she doesn’t take this (yes, I will be contacting her PCP to discuss my thoughts as well). I’m thinking there are thousands of women in their 80’s who never took this medication and are fine.
I am one of thousands victims of Merck’s Fosamax. I tried to take them to court. However, all the lawyers I contacted will not take the case because they know they can’t win since this miscarriage of justice occurred. The only advice I got was to be aware of the “Statutes of Limitation” on time to file a claim. This shouldn’t be allowed to continue in our country.
My wife, Oneita, had an atypical femur fracture, complete break just below her hip socket, in January of 2009. It was surgically repaired but was extremely slow to regrow. She was in a wheel chair for exactly one year. Had to get a bone stimulator to finally get the bone to regrow.
In August of 2009, contacted Parker/Waichman LLP, legal firm. Litigation is still in progress but seems to be at a standstill. Eleven years, whew!!!
Unfortunately, my wife passed away in March of 2014. Parker/Waichman has kept me in the loop but it seems the actual trial dates are always in the future. This is a class action being tried in the New Jersey district area. Are you aware of any future trial dates?
We were married 43 years. I’m listed as her personal representative in her claim as well as a separate claim for myself.
Any additional information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Because of this second surgery and the problems that I had prior and during the surgery I had to move in with a family member to care for me. I am about to loose my home, my car and the depression about this 2nd hip replacement is so severe I don’t know what to do. How is Merck getting away with this? Please call me if you have information on a law firm taking cases 903 422-0448.
I am sorry for all your losses, however, there are no attorneys taking any cases against Merck or other drug companies. The Supreme court threw it back to a state judge to decide and that was in January this year and still nothing. Cases have been in the pipeline for about 18 years. It is hopeless. All of us who suffered these traumatic femur and metatarsal fractures are victims on many levels. Merck gets away with it because they have millions and millions to spend on attorneys. I hope you can find relief, even by talking to a counselor or clergy member to help you through these times.
Five years after my right hip replacement due to a femur fracture caused by fosomax, on October 10 2019 I underwent a second hip replacement. This time on my left hip due to a femur fracture caused by fosomax. Are we serious there is nothing that can be done?
I took fosomax a few years back n began getting symptoms. I had to have teeth extractions, weakness in my body. My problem was osteopenia n it was a steady regression in my body. I now am dealing with multiple myloema n my bones have has a large impact as well as in my blood.I was diagnosed at least 6 yrs. back. Along the time of taking fosomax. I can be reached at my above email. Thank you. Barbara A. Birch.🧚♀️
So that’s it? I am floored right now after reading what you said, around heart believe that that’s the way it’s gonna end. There is got to be an attorney somewhere that knows the right way to do this. Yes minor fever fractures I’m just upset and unable to talk right now. I just don’t get how there getting away with this how is it possible? I am not gonna sit back and be quiet. I’m curious how many others have had 2 hip replacements because of fosamax?
Omg I just started taking this Fosamax , I Am so scared after reading all this comment. I am going to call my Dr
Geogia,
You should talk to your doctor, and if you have a diagnosis of “Osetopenia” and not Osteoporosis, you should not be prescribed any drugs. Improve your intake of calcium to a total of 1200IU daily, Vitamin D3, Magnesium 500mg and adding Vitamin K2 all help drive the calcium into your bones. If you have Osteoporosis, taking the bisphosphonate drugs for 3 years may help, but do not stay on any of them or Prolia. Best wishes!
After reading numerous articles about Fosamax and the fractures, the one thing that I see missing is that nobody has yet to see the long-term adverse effects. Here I am, I’m a 59 year-old woman who had my first unexplained femur fractures on my right hip. I had to get a hip replacement 3 years ago and now the other hip has a fracture. I am so angry do you know that 40% of people 60 and older with double hip replacements are never able to live independently again. I want a lawyer, I want someone to help me, I’m a smart woman and educated and I’m not sitting back Merrick is going down for what they’ve done to me I’m going to put my phone number out there 903 422-0448 my name is Laura Rogers.
Laura,
To begin with, hip and femur fractures are two different diagnosis and due to Emergency Room codings, the femur fractures are under-reported greatly. So if it was the femur, (thigh area) you are definitely one of their victims.
You need to report your fractures immediately to the FDA, each fracture individually, not both at once, so they have a list of the number of fractures recorded. Here is the link to do that:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=reporting.home
Second, spreading the word of our fractures is about the only way to have someone listen and to help others prevent having their lives ruined. There have been thousands of suits filed, but Merck has very highly-paid lawyers who have slithered them through the anals of the courts. The case went to the Supreme Court in May and they threw it back to be decided by a Federal Judge somewhere. Once he makes a decision that is the end of it, and none of us hold much hope he will rule in favor of people over corporations! No new clients are being accepted by any attorneys I am told. This is due to the fact that the patient-insert information started listing Atypical Femur Fractures as a “side effect” (!!!) in late-2010, so because of the warning, that makes them sinless, I guess. However, you could check with one of the leading groups on this case:
http://www.robinsonfirm.com
It is a long, long journey for you now, as the drug (Fosamax) stays in your bones for 20+ years, leeching out slowly over time, others in this classification may not remain that long. But, never take any other bisphosphonate drugs or Prolia again. They all do the same destruction. Forteo is the only option to heal any of the bones and especially non-healing bone–and non-healing is another very common issue. I hope you have a knowledgable doctor treating you.
We have a support group for those with these femur fractures. Feel free to contact: Dr. Jennifer Schneider (a victim herself) at:
[email protected]
I wish you the best.
I am sorry to hear of your pain Adrian. You are the typical victim. Just beware of any thigh pain and if it occurs, get an MRI as fast as you can. Regular x-rays may not show a stress fracture with a pending completed and very traumatic fracture looming. Sadly, big pharma has not been held accountable–at least not yet. And I am not sure lawyers are accepting new clients, but you should check. We were their guniea pigs–especially those of us who never had Osteoporosis! I hope you are not doing any other drugs now. Only Forteo can help heal the fractures–non union is a big deal and a common thing with our destroyed bone structure now. Prolia or Evenity do the same damage, so avoid those at all costs. And always read the patient inserts with any drug. We are our only advocates.