Kent Klaudt of the national plaintiffs’ law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP announced that Reba Inez Patton and her husband Patrick Patton of Tennessee have filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey against Merck & Co., the manufacturer of Fosamax, and GlaxoSmithKline, LLC, the manufacturer of Boniva, alleging these prescription drugs, which fall within the category of drugs known as bisphosphonates, increase the risk of atypical bone fractures and caused Mrs. Patton severe and permanent injuries.
Mrs. Patton was prescribed both Fosamax and Boniva. Mrs. Patton used Fosamax from approximately 2001 to 2006, and Boniva from approximately 2006 to 2010. On December 10, 2010, Mrs. Patton suffered a low energy, atypical femoral fracture when she took a step to walk up a flight of stairs.
“I wish this never happened to me. When I walk, it is scary because I do not want to fall again,” stated Mrs. Patton.
Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax and Boniva are intended to slow bone loss associated with osteoporosis. However, as the lawsuit charges, long-term use of Fosamax and Boniva causes weak or brittle bones, resulting in a rare type of low energy or low trauma femur fracture.
“Merck and GlaxoSmithKline negligently marketed these bisphosphonate products, which lack long-term benefits and also pose significant dangers to patients, especially those who have been on the drugs for many years,” commented attorney Klaudt.
The complaint also charges that Merck and GlaxoSmithKline failed to provide physicians and patients with sufficient instructions and warnings regarding the risk of severely suppressed bone turnover, resulting in stress fractures. Klaudt stated, “Neither doctors nor patients were warned by the manufacturers of these horrible atypical femur fractures caused by long-term use of bisphosphonates.”
Mrs. Patton charges in the complaint that she will require ongoing medical care and treatment due to her severe and permanent injuries, including severely suppressed bone turnover and a severe fracture in her left femur, fear of developing other harmful conditions, additional fractures, and pain and mental anguish.
“The accident changed a good part of my life; it put a lot of extra burden on my family. I just do not want this to happen to anyone else,” Mrs. Patton added.