Fosamax^®
Fosamax (Alendronate Sodium) is manufactured by Merck and used to treat Osteoporosis and Paget's disease in post-menopausal women.  Fosamax was approved by the FDA on November 24, 1999.  Fosamax is a type of drug known as a bisphosphonate.  Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogs of pyrophosphate that bind to the hydroxyapatite found in bone.  Fosamax acts as a specific inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.  Osteoporosis is defined as a "skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture."  The bone-thinning disease has been referred to as the "silent thief" for its covert way of stealing bone mass and depleting bone strength with no symptoms until a bone fracture occurs.  Fosamax is taken by nearly 10 million men and women. Annual sales top $3 billion.

A connection between Fosamax (and other bisphosphonates) and a serious bone disease called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) has been suggested. Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) is also known as Dead Jaw. This finding was published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and it prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the manufacturer of Fosamax to issue a warning to health care professionals.

Consult A Doctor On Medical Issues
The Steinberg Law Firm does not intend, by this web site or otherwise, to dissuade anyone from taking medication without their doctors' approval.  Please consult your doctor, not your lawyer, on matters relating to your health.  It could be dangerous to stop taking medicines, especially abruptly, and that patients should talk to their physicians to decide whether the benefits and risks of taking Fosamax make it the right choice for them.

Consult A Lawyer on Legal Issues
Please call or e-mail us for a free evaluation of your legal rights if you or a loved one have developed Dead Jaw during or after using Fosamax. You will not be charged any fee unless we win your case.

Please e-mail Andrew E. Steinberg* at:  andrewsteinberg@lawyer.com for a free, confidential consultation. Or call us at 713-529-0025.

*Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.   

Other lawyers likely to be associated with the handling of these claims.