Three early trials regarding Merck & Company's osteoporosis drug, Fosamax, have been set for trial. Fosamax users have been diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the jaw, an irreversible and painful condition that destroys bone tissue and hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the pharmaceutical giant.

Over 600 lawsuits filed

Fosamax has been linked to hundreds of injuries across the nation and more than 600 lawsuits have already been filed against Merck & Company, the drug's manufacturer. The lawsuits have been consolidated into a multi-district litigation and are centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Three early trials have been set with the first one beginning in August 2009, the second in October 2009 and the third in January 2010. The three cases will be heard by juries and will help to identify the relevant issues concerning all the pending cases. Legal experts say that more lawsuits continue to be filed by women who have been injured by the drug.

Suffered harm from Fosamax? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. [Sponsored link]

What is Fosamax?

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995, Fosamax is manufactured by Merck & Company and is prescribed to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, since that time, it has been linked to a deterioration of the jaw bone, known as osteonecrosis, and the FDA required an additional warning to be placed on the label in 2005. It has also been linked to increased rates of irregular heartbeats, or atrial fibrillation, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

Generic versions approved

Earlier in 2008, the FDA approved generic versions of Fosamax which are now manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA of Pennsylvania and Barr Laboratories Inc. of New Jersey. The success of these generic equivalents will likely be dependant upon how the hundreds of lawsuits against Merck & Company are resolved.

If you've been injured due to Fosamax or any other drug, contact an experienced Fosamax attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and strictly confidential.

Suffered harm from Fosamax? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. [Sponsored link]