Merck may face additional 100 lawsuits over Fosamax

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. Merck is facing as many as 100 new lawsuits in which the company is being accused of failing to warn that its osteoporosis drug Fosamax may cause irreversible jaw-rot, according to Bloomberg.

The company is already facing more than 400 lawsuits in U.S. federal and state courts regarding the drug. As of March 31, Merck faced about 465 Fosamax cases, including suits with multiple patients, the company said last month.

Patients who used Fosamax claim Merck misrepresented its safety, failing to warn doctors and patients that it may hamper blood flow to the jaw, causing jawbone-tissue death. The company last week said it reserved $60 million for future Fosamax litigation costs, up from $48 million.

Fosamax had sales of $3 billion in 2007, although sales are expected to drop by over half this year due to generic competition.