Novartis Denied Summary Judgment in Illinois Zometa ONJ Case

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — An Illinois federal judge has denied Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NYSE: NVS) summary judgment in a Zometa injury action, finding issues of material fact with respect to causation and adequacy of warnings.

On Dec. 17, Judge Michael Reagan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois found the plaintiff presented adequate evidence that Zometa caused his late mother to contract bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw and that Novartis knew its warnings were inadequate.

Christopher Rutz alleges that his late mother, Carolyn, developed osteonecrosis of the jaw as a result of Zometa infusions prescribed …