As a major shock to the pharmaceutical company, Merck & Co lost the second trial over its drug, Fosamax. As per the claims, the drug causes jaw death.

Post the loss, Merck may have to pay $8 million as damage charges.

The case was filed against the company by Shirley Boles, 72 and who was awarded $ 3 million by the court as against her demand of $5 million.

Boles had claimed that because of the usage of Fosamax, she had developed osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The verdict which was given by the U.S. District Judge John Keenan said that the scheduled three attempts were made to settle the issue out-of-court.

Verdict on the third case is going to come in November and it is expected that the past two-trials will surely have an impact on the third one as well.

It is said that Merck tried every possible bit to be able to win the case but the lawyers of the company were unable to do much. Now, Merck is thinking of following a different strategy in its third case.

Fosamax is part of the group of medicines known as bisphosphonates.