Tenn. Judge Denies Request to Add 24 Out-of-State Plaintiffs to Cancer Drug Case

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A Tennessee federal judge on Aug. 30 denied two plaintiffs' motion to add 24 out-of-state plaintiffs to their lawsuit alleging that Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.'s cancer drugs caused their rare jaw diseases. Thorn v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. No. 2:04-cv-586 (E.D. Tenn.).

Sandra Thorn sued Novartis in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in December, claiming the cancer drugs she consumed, Aredia (pamidronate disodium) and Zometa (zoledronic acid), caused her to develop osteonecrosis of the mandible, a jaw disease.

Irene Jenkins, who also has osteonecrosis, was added as a plaintiff in April. Thorn and Jenkins …