subject: Know The Corporation Behind Fosamax [print this page] One of the largest pharmaceutical corporation is brought to the spotlight time and again. Merck receives complaints from consumers of its medications with regard to their side effects and they mounting in number. Nonetheless, there is also good news for Merck, the last of which being its victory on fifth Fosamax osteonecrosis of the jaw trial.
Way back in the 19th century, Merck & Co. was recognized as the United States subsidiary of the German company now known as Merck KGaA. It was also confiscated in 1917 during the World War I like many other German establishments only to be set up as an independent company.
Merck made a joint venture with Schering-Plough in 2009 to form a new company. Both companies have already made a highly-reputable name in manufacturing products that improve human and animal health. The newly-formed corporation is currently the worlds second largest health care company.
Merck is the company behind widely-prescribed drugs such as Gardasil, Singulair, Proscar, Zocor, Isentress and Fosamax. The company also publishes books which include the worlds best-selling medical textbook, the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. In 2010, the companys net income was around $861 million.
Yet, Merck too has its share of problems. Upon the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the market release of Vioxx, the drug quickly became one of the most widely used drug in history due to its higher efficacy in treating arthritis than other drugs while causing less severe stomach upset than most anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen. However, repercussion struck when studies beyond question claimed that "the unacceptable cardiovascular risks of Vioxx (rofecoxib) were evident as early as 2000..." consequently ensuing the withdrawal of the drug from the market on September 30, 2004.
Now, another Merck blockbuster is feared to suffer the same consequences as Vioxx. Fosamax is the most popular drug for treating diseases like osteoporosis and Pagets disease. Yet, there is growing evidence that long-term use of the drug may lead to severe conditions such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and low-impact thigh bone fractures.
While further analysis is being conducted by FDA with regard to Fosamax, many spectators wait patiently for the surfacing of the results. Anyhow, a significant number of people have filed a class action Fosamax lawsuit against the maker of the drug for the injuries they incurred which were purportedly the result of long-term Fosamax use. Its only a matter of time before this controversy is determined.
