Growing MDLs and Lawsuits

Growing MDLs and Lawsuits

Introduction

The proton-pump inhibitor product liability litigation MDL No. 2757 is witnessing a steady rise in the number of cases filed against the makers alleging they provided false and misleading information about the safety of the drugs for years, risking the lives of thousands who faced an increased risk of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, and other renal problems after using their products. As per our sources, about 370 lawsuits are pending in the federal court system presided over by Judge Claire C. Cecchi. Additionally, 127 complaints are filed in the Delaware Superior Court and one case filed in Missouri Circuit Court that involves 28 different plaintiffs.

MDL 2750, the federal litigation of Invokana and Invokamet lawsuits is growing steadily as plaintiffs around the country continue to file lawsuits against the drugmaker Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for suffering serious complications alleged to be a result of their exposure to canagliflozin, the active ingredient present in these drugs. The cases were centralized in December 2016 before Judge Brian R. Martinotti, in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey and currently has 952 cases pending.

A Louisiana woman filed a product liability complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Bayer for manufacturing and selling Essure birth control device claiming it to be dangerous and putting her life at a serious risk. This was after she developed severe complications from the Essure coils resulting in the need for an additional surgery to remove the device, further leading to health problems. The woman also complained of suffering from heavy bleeding with large clots, severe abdominal cramping, pelvic pain, stomach bloating, leg pain, heavy menstrual cycles, severe itching, headaches, and fatigue.

The device has also been linked to requiring a necessary hysterectomy. The manufacturer Bayer has reported in their 2016 financial report of losing roughly $413 million USD for Essure and revealed that nearly 3,700 patients have filed lawsuits against them as of January 2017 for Essure complications.

Thousands of Essure lawsuits are filed nationwide. In 2016, Judge Winifred Y. Smith, coordinated 55 cases before a single judge in Alameda County Superior Court under Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4887. Apart from this, several groups of Essure cases have been consolidated in other courts. At least 18 federal lawsuits are currently consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania as of November 2016. However, Essure lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

A North Carolina woman filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca and Takeda Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging she became a case of chronic kidney disease following the long-term use of Nexium and Dexilant, and the drug makers failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the potential kidney risks. Nexium lawsuits are centralized in MDL No. 2757 under Judge Claire C. Cecchi in the U.S. District of New Jersey.

Multiple revision surgeries and permanent injuries by Bard Monofilament Knitted Polypropylene Mesh used during an incisional hernia repair in January 2006 were the reasons why a lawsuit was filed by a man against C.R. Bard and its Davol subsidiary in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.