Jaw deterioration cases arising out of Aredia and Zometa will go to trial

A federal judge in Tennessee has ruled against Novartis' efforts to summarily dismiss 40 lawsuits claiming that Novartis' bone-strengthening drugs Areda and Zometa caused severe deterioration of patient's jaw bones.  Novartis is currently defending more than 600 cases in Nashville and 150 cases pending in New Jersey.  The Swedish drug company is being criticized for the inadequacy of its warnings to patients.  These cases cannot be maintained by Michigan consumers, in most cases, because the drugs and their warnings were approved by the FDA--even though it has now become apparent that FDA approval by a committee composed primarily of drug manufacturer's representatives is frequently a sham.