GSK Warning-Label Verdict: Widow Fails To Reclaim $3M

Introduction

An attempt to reinstate a $3 million verdict made by the wife of a law firm partner has been rejected by an Illinois federal judge on July 11.

The husband, a law firm partner, had consumed the generic version of Paxil, an antidepressant that belongs to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), before jumping in front of a train to commit suicide in 2010. His wife filed a lawsuit against GSK in 2012, alleging GSK had failed to report adult suicide rates during its trial studies to the FDA. In an initial verdict, the attorney's widow was awarded $3 million which was later reversed by Seventh Circuit court, stating that the company cannot be held liable as he took a generic version of GSK's antidepressant Paxil. As per a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, generic drug companies are not liable for failing to provide adequate label warnings since federal law requires them to use brand versions' labels only. However, GSK blames the FDA for failing to update Paxil label warnings regarding adult suicide despite several requests to do so. At present, Paxil labels include warnings about suicide risks for patients below the age of 24.

U.S. District Court Judge Mariana Pfaelzer overlooks the MDL No. 1574 (Ninth Circuit: In re Paxil Products Liability Litigation) in the Central District of California for cases filed over withdrawal symptoms. Lawsuits involving birth defects are consolidated in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

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