4th Cir. Affirms Denial of Novartis’s Post-Trial Motions in $1.3 Million Aredia/Zometa Case

RICHMOND, Va. — A federal appeals court has upheld a trial court’s refusal to grant Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.’s (NYSE: NVS) motion for a new trial in an Aredia/Zometa injury case, finding none of the lower court’s evidentiary rulings challenged by the drug maker affected its substantial rights.

The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals also affirmed the lower court’s denial of Novartis’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on punitive damages, finding the evidence gave the jury a sufficient basis to determine that the drug maker’s actions were willful, not simply negligent.

Rita Fussman, now deceased, sued Novartis, …