Author Archives: Lillian
Smith & Nephew Says Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Controversy Slowing Sales of Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System
Medical device maker Smith & Nephew has reported a drop in sales of its metal-on-metal hip implant devices. According to the company, hip implant sales were down 2 percent during the first quarter of 2012, largely because its Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System suffered from an association with other metal-on-metal hip ...
First DePuy ASR Hip Implant Lawsuits Head to Trial in December, January
The first trials involving lawsuits filed against DePuy Orthopaedics by recipients of its recalled ASR Hip Implants will begin later this year, and early next year. The first is slated to start on December 3, 2012 in state court in Las Vegas, Nevada. A second DePuy ASR hip implant lawsuit ...
First Bard Avaulta Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit Scheduled for February Trial in MDL
The first test trials in the federal C.R. Bard Avaulta transvaginal mesh litigation will most likely start next year, according to a report from Bloomberg News. About 600 lawsuits involving Bard Avaulta transvaginal mesh products are currently pending in the multidistrict litigation underway Charleston, West Virginia. U.S. District Judge Joseph ...
Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit Filed by West Virginia Resident
Actos (pioglitazone) continues to be named in lawsuits alleging long-term use of the type 2 diabetes drug caused patients to develop bladder cancer. Just last week, the national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP filed suit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals on behalf of a West Virginia man who developed bladder cancer ...
Fracking Should be Kept 600m From Aquifers, Study Says
New research on the safety of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) suggests new wells should not be dug within 600 meters of a water aquifer because underground fractures can extend about that far from a dug well. According to a report from UK’s The Guardian newspaper, researchers and geologists at Durham University have ...
Federal DePuy ASR Hip Implant Trials Likely to Start This Year
It looks as though the first trials in the DePuy ASR hip implant multidistrict litigation could begin sometime later this year. According to a report from Bloomberg News, during a status conference held yesterday in Florida, attorneys for both plaintiffs and the defense told U.S. District Judge David Katz that ...
Study Finds SSRI Antidepressant Side Effects Outweigh Their Benefits
A new study is raising more concerns about the safety of commonly used antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake (SSRI) inhibitor antidepressants. Investigators who conducted the study, which is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, posit that increased knowledge of the negative effects of SSRIs and other antidepressants could reduce ...
Study Linking Z-Pak to Increased Death Risk Being Reviewed by FDA
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a new study that reported an increased risk of sudden, heart-related deaths among people using the antibiotic Zithromax (azithromycin), known popularly as Z-Pak. In a statement issued late yesterday, the FDA said patients being treated with Zithromax should not stop taking ...
Pradaxa Associated with more Complications than Warfarin, According to Early Study Findings
Early results from the largest study to date to compare Pradaxa and warfarin indicate that in a real-world setting, Pradaxa causes more complications than decades-old warfarin. The preliminary study results were announced last week, during the 2012 Thrombosis and Hemostasis Summit of North America.
Bayer Yaz, Yasmin Blood Clot Lawsuit Settlements Stand at $147 Million
Bayer AG reported yesterday that it continues to settle Yaz and Yasmin birth control pill lawsuits. According to a report from Bloomberg News, the company said in its latest Stockholder Newsletter that it has settled 651 Yaz and Yasmin blood clot lawsuits for a total of $147 million. The average ...
Lawsuits Claiming NuvaRing Causes Blood Clots Continue to Build
NuvaRing is being linked to a series of thrombotic issues leading to serious health problems and litigation. The birth contol device can allegedly cause blood clots, some of which can be fatal. Manufacturers such as Merck & Co. are being … Continue reading
Health Concerns and Litigation over Yaz/Yasmin Birth Control
Bayer is being widely criticized over Yaz and Yasmin, two similar types of oral contraceptives. The popular birth control pills are reportedly responsible for causing blood-clots, with some instances resulting in death. In light of the evidence, advisors to the … Continue reading
Actos Linked to Bladder Cancer
Takeda’s Actos, the diabetes drug, has been linked to possible cases of bladder cancer. After studies established a connection between the drug and disease, the widely used medication was taken off the shelves in two European countries last June. Shortly … Continue reading
Depakote Legal Troubles Not Over for Abbott
Depakote continues to pose more legal challenges for Abbott Laboratories (ABT). Among other issues, the company has allegedly violated consumer protection laws in relation to Depakote’s sale and marketing. After allegations of off-market labeling and U.S. Justice Department investigation last … Continue reading
Medtronic Spine Sales Still Steadily Dropping in Wake of Infuse Controversies
Medtronic, Inc., sales have continued to decline after months of skepticism surrounding some of their products and practices. The company is experiencing a particularly bad quarter with regards to implantable heart defibrillators and spine products, which are two of their … Continue reading
MS Drug Gilenya Under Review in Europe, but Still Deemed Safe by FDA
US medical professionals are continuing to back Novartis’ Gilenya (fingolimod) despite the growing concern following several cases of patient death in the past few months. To investigate the effects of Gilenya on one’s cardiovascular health, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) … Continue reading
