The source for breaking news and information concerning ongoing pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. We bring victims of defective drugs and devices together together with attorneys specializing in the field.

Our affiliated firms represent clients all across the nation in cases involving defective drugs and devices including:

Arthritis Medications - TNF Inhibitors including: Remicade, Enbrel, Humira and Cimzia
On August 4, 2009 the FDA notified healthcare professionals that it had completed an analysis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers and concluded that there is an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers associated with the use of these drugs in children and adolescents. This new safety information is now being added to the Boxed Warning for these products. The FDA also identified new safety information related to the occurrence of leukemia and new-onset psoriasis in patients treated with TNF blockers. The current prescribing information for TNF blockers does contain a warning for malignancies, but does not specifically mention leukemia. FDA is also requiring updates to the current Medication Guide to help patients understand the risks associated with TNF blocker therapy.

TNF blockers are approved for the treatment of one or more of a number of immune system diseases including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Our affiliated attorneys are now investigating several cases in which patients administered Remicade, Humira or Enbrel developed cancers and malignancies including leukemia or lymphoma.

FDA Warns Consumers To Stop Taking Hydroxycut
On May 1, 2009 the FDA warned consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products have been associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Iovate agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.

Arthritis Medications - TNF Inhibitors including: Remicade, Enbrel, Humira and Cimzia
On September 4, 2008, the FDA ordered stronger warnings for four drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The FDA is warning users that they are at risk of developing potentially fatal fungal infections. In its announcement the agency reports that 240 users of the drugs have contracted a fungal infection called histoplasmosis. The FDA further stated that deaths resulted in 45 of the reported cases in which histoplasmosis was diagnosed.

Our affiliated attorneys are now investigating several cases in which patients administered Remicade, Humira or Enbrel contracted significant fungal infections requiring extensive hospitalizations. In some cases the patients died despite heroic efforts to save their lives.

Paxil (Paroxetine or paroxetine hydrochloride)

Paxil is an antidepressant that was heavily marketed to women of child bearing age. Studies have shown that babies born to mothers who took Paxil during pregnancy are more likely to be born with significant birth defects. There have been numerous reports of children born with malformed hearts, skeletal defects and other serious birth defects.

Paxil Birth Defects include, but are not limited to the following:

• - Heart Birth Defects (Atrial or Ventricular Septal Defects, Murmurs, etc)
• - Lung Birth Defects (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension)
• - Craniosynostosis (resulting in an abnormally shaped head)
• - Abdominal Birth Defects (Omphalocele)
• - Cranial Birth Defects (Craniosynostosis)

Studies have shown that babies born to mothers who took Paxil were 6 times as likely to develop Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), a potentially fatal condition, than babies born to mothers who did not take Paxil during pregnancy.

Our attorneys have filed cases throughout the country on behalf of innocent children who are the victims of this drug company's greed. Trials are expected to begin during the winter of 2008-2009 in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and elsewhere. Our affiliated firms are leading the fight and are taking important depositions of company employees this fall.

ALERT:DrugSettlement.com, LLC, reports that one of its member firms,Nix & McIntyre, LLP,, has been ordered by Judge Claire V. Eagan of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, to commence the first federal Paxil Birth Defect trial on January 20, 2009. The case has been profiled in a television news story by News9 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Fentanyl Patch, otherwise known as the “Duragesic Patch”
A popular pain killer marketed as the Duragesic Patch (fentanyl)by by PriCara and generically by Sandoz Inc., is now subject to a recall order by the FDA. This is pain patch is used by millions of consumers. The recall includes all 25-microgram-per-hour patches with expiration dates on or before December 2009. According to sources the recall is due to a possible manufacturing defect involving the delivery of the prescription medication. The fentanyl patch defect is described as a cut in the in the lining of the internal reservoir where the drug is stored in gel form. If the fentanyl gel leaks into the drug's packaging, it could cause a patient or caregiver to come into direct contact with this powerful "opioid" drug. This could result in difficulty breathing and a potentially fatal overdose.

This is the second warning in the last two years issued by the FDA regarding the safety of fentanyl or Duragesic patches.

Avandia
Avandia is used to treat type 2 diabetes. The FDA has required the manufacturer to change the label to warn patients of increased risks of heart attacks, liver, lung or bone damage. there have also been several deaths reported

Just click on any one of the defective drugs or medical devices listed on the left side of this page for general information on that case. At the bottom of the page is a link to breaking news, key litigation documents and links to useful relevant sites of interest specific to that case.

If you or a loved one have been injured by one of the drugs or devices listed, contact us for a free and confidential evaluation.