6th Cir. Upholds Summary Judgment to Novartis in Aredia/Zometa ONJ Case

CINCINNATI — A federal appeals court has affirmed a grant of summary judgment to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: NVS) in an Aredia/Zometa injury case, finding the plaintiffs’ experts failed to establish a link between the drugs and the patient’s osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court that the experts failed to offer any opinions on causation and did not perform a proper differential diagnosis.

James Simmons developed ONJ, allegedly as a result of being treated with Zometa and Aredia. He was a smoker for 35 years and was diagnosed with lung …