MDL Judge Denies Novartis Summary Judgment in 10 Aredia/Zometa Cases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The judge overseeing the federal Aredia and Zometa multidistrict litigation has denied Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp.’s (NYSE: NVS) motion for summary judgment in 10 cases, finding questions of fact as to whether the drug maker knew before 2003 that biophosphonates could cause osteonecrosis of the jaw.

On May 24, Judge Todd J. Campbell of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee also found questions of fact as to whether Novartis had adequately conveyed information to doctors of the known or knowable risk at the time of each plaintiff's treatment.

In its motion for summary …