It’s sad but true...
What’s even worse – drug companies marketing drugs to consumers that the drug companies know are the cause of injuries and death.
Let’s look at a few recent examples:
- Propulsid: This drug is a heartburn medication that was made by
Johnson & Johnson. From 1993-1998, the company made over $1 billion in sales for this drug, even as the company knew that hundreds of patients were dying from its deadly side effects. Children were known to be at a particularly high risk of death. As the number of infant deaths continued to climb, a few folks at Johnson & Johnson began to wonder whether the company should severely restrict Propulsid’s use for children. This internal inquiry led to a ban on sales for premature infants in some European countries, but senior executives at J&J actually overruled a ban in the United States. In all, some 300 people died from using this drug before it was finally pulled from the market. - Trasylol: This drug was used on open-heart patients to prevent blood clotting and was made by Bayer. Bayer had known for years that the drug could and did cause kidney damage and kidney failure – and yet they continued to market and sell the drug. A study published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that halting the use of Trasylol would prevent 11,050 cases of kidney failure annually and save more than $1 billion in dialysis costs. Under pressure – Bayer conducted a study confirming the toxic effects of the drug but chose not to inform the FDA. Under pressure – Bayer halted the sale of the drug in the U.S.
- Zyprexa: This drug was introduced to the market by Eli Lilly to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder declaring it “the number one psychotropic in history”. What Eli Lilly failed to disclose was the fact that the drug had dangerous side effects including diabetes. In fact, they specifically instructed sales reps to avoid introducing the issue. They even launched a marketing campaign targeting two groups known to be particularly at risk – children and the elderly. In 2009, the Department of Justice fined Eli Lilly $1.4 billion for its duplicitous marketing of Zyprexa tactics.
Other famously dangerous drugs that caused injury and death include:
- Fenfluramine/phentermine (Fen-Phen). Maker: Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES). Multiple manufacturers
- Cerivastatin (Baycol). Maker: Bayer
- Rofecoxib (Vioxx): Maker: Merck
- Valdecoxib (Bextra): Maker: Pfizer
The cost of adverse drug reactions to society is more than $136 billion annually and adverse drug reactions cause injuries or death in one of five hospital patients.
If you or a loved one is ever the victim of a defective drug or the improper prescription of a drug therapy, call a qualified Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer. A knowledgeable malpractice attorney can help to ensure that your rights are protected.
RisCassi & Davis has handled hundreds of defective drug and medical malpractice cases over our more than 65 years serving the people of Connecticut.
What’s more, our Connecticut medical malpractice lawyers have received local and national recognition for our handling of these cases including:
- Top listings in “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Law Firms”
- Top listing by Martindale-Hubbell as a “New England Top Rated AV Preeminent® Law Firm
- Admission of five of our personal injury lawyers as members in the very prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. The American College is a professional society of Fellows who become members only by invitation, with admission limited to experienced, outstanding trial lawyers who are unquestionably and eminently qualified as actively engaged trial lawyers. Only 1% of all trial lawyers in any state are offered admission as members to the College… read more.
We have a great team of legal experts dedicated to defective drugs and the improper prescription of drug therapies. Please contact us if we can help you.
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