After deliberating for fewer than forty-five minutes, a federal jury in Tampa, Florida returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in a 3-week trial involving Aredia and Zometa, bisphosphonate medicines used to treat cancer patients suffering from metastases to bone.  Dopson-Troutt v. Novartis Pharm. Corp., No. 8:06-cv-1708-T-24-EAJ (M.D. Fl. April 9, 2013).

Plaintiff Ruth Dopson-Troutt alleged that she developed osteonecrosis of the jaw as a result of receiving Aredia® and Zometa® to prevent skeletal-related events – such as bone fractures – when her breast cancer metastasized to her bones.

The jury rejected plaintiff’s Florida-based failure-to-warn claim by answering “No” to the question “Did Novartis negligently fail to provide an adequate warning of the risks of osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with Aredia and/or Zometa to Ruth Dopson-Troutt’s prescribing physician?”