Valsartan “Wave 2” Bellwether Trial Schedule Set by Court

Valsartan “Wave 2” Bellwether Trial Schedule Set by Court

Introduction

As the first Valsartan bellwether trial approaches in September 2025, the federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation (MDL) is preparing a second set of trials.

This move comes in anticipation of the possibility that parties may not reach a global settlement following the initial trial. The new “Wave 2” trials will include four additional lawsuits selected to proceed if no resolution is achieved.

Background of the Valsartan Litigation

More than 1,300 product liability lawsuits have been filed in federal courts nationwide following widespread recalls of Valsartan in 2018. These recalls were issued by various generic drug manufacturers after it was discovered that some versions of the blood pressure medication were contaminated with carcinogenic substances, including N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA).

Common Allegations Across Cases

Each of the lawsuits presents similar claims, asserting that prolonged use of contaminated Valsartan caused individuals to develop various forms of cancer. These include liver cancer, stomach cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, and other malignancies. Due to the shared legal and factual issues, the lawsuits were centralized under a federal MDL in the District of New Jersey, where they are being managed by a U.S. District Judge.

Purpose of Bellwether Trials

Bellwether trials are intended to help both plaintiffs and defendants gauge how juries may react to key evidence and arguments presented throughout the litigation. The first Valsartan bellwether case involves a man from Alabama who developed liver cancer after using recalled versions of the drug. This trial is expected to begin in September 2025 and may influence future settlement discussions.

Preparation for Wave 2 Trials

In a court order issued on May 14, four additional lawsuits were selected for the second wave of bellwether trials. The Court laid out a detailed schedule for preparing these cases: fact discovery must be completed by June 9, 2025, expert discovery by August 20, and a final pretrial order will be issued on November 24, 2025.

Expected Trial Timeline and Future Outlook

While exact trial dates for the Wave 2 cases have yet to be determined, they are not expected to reach a jury until mid-2026. The schedule is subject to change depending on the progress of the MDL and future bellwether trial dates.

Although these trials do not carry binding precedent for other lawsuits, their outcomes could significantly impact the direction of settlement negotiations. If no global resolution is reached after the second wave of bellwether trials, the judge may begin sending unresolved cases back to federal courts across the country for individual trials in the coming years.