The Food and Drug Administration stated that there was no connection between bisphosphonate osteoporosis medications and fractures in the thigh. Bisphosphonate belongs to a type of medication that is given to avoid any form of fractures especially in women going through menopause.

The FDA made this statement on Wednesday, based on certain case studies that showed medications such as Procter and Gamble Co.’s Actonel, Fosamax, Novartis AG’s Reclast and Roche Holding AG’s Boniva, caused thigh bone fractures.

Apparently the use of Bisphosphonates in the last ten years began to show a few concerns causing a lot of rumors about its usage. Earlier in 2008, the FDA did make an attempt to gather enough information from various companies that made the drug to find a connection between the two; however, nothing was found, stating its usage had nothing to do with one running the risk of issues with the heart. Publications from New England Journal of Medicine too were looked at. The FDA further involved various subject matter experts to do a further drill down of the analysis.

There have been many lawsuits filed against Merck where more than 900 patients claim to have ‘death of the jaw bone tissue’ after using the drug Fosamax. However, a spokesperson from Merck, Ron Rogers said, “In clinical studies, Fosamax has not been associated with increased fracture risk at any skeletal site.”

He also mentioned the current research being done by Merck stating, Low energy femoral shaft and subtrochanteric fractures have been reported in the medical literature as occurring in non-bisphosphonate users.

FDA, at the moment, has asked many of the patients to continue to use the drug until recommended otherwise by their physician.