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Consumers Suffer When Drug Companies Conceal Product Safety Information

Consumers Suffer When Drug Companies Conceal Product Safety Information

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Consumer health and safety should be the NUMBER ONE GOAL of drug research. Yet, it’s not. The primary goal seems to be greed. Immediate greed for quick and massive profit. For some drug companies that means — conceal bad studies revealing drug dangers, give the FDA just enough positive information to get the drug to market, and then sell as much as possible until the dangers come to light. Because of this, many patients are needlessly injured each year by dangerous and defective drugs that should have never been sold. Often, it’s too late for the families harmed.

Below are just a few recent examples of how drug companies view real research and the documents that explore the safety of their products:

  • Transvaginal Mesh— My office represents numerous women in Huntsville and throughout northern Alabama who suffered injury from mesh products by manufacturers Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon, Coloplast, and American Medical Systems. These companies marketed their mesh products through a loophole in our law that allows certain dangerous medical devices to be sold prior to proper testing. Basically, the process is turned upside down and sales come before safety testing. Thousands of women suffered serious, and often disabling, injuries after being implanted with these dangerous and defective products. We have worked closely with attorneys in other states. The dedication of the many excellent attorneys representing injured victims of these defective products is the only reason the truth about the dangers is now coming to light. Yet, some manufacturers continue to avoid producing the complete information which the public deserves. On February 4, 2014, the Court hearing the claims against Ethicon, entered an Order saying the following:

Having now thoroughly considered the matter, the court finds that Ethicon did destroy or otherwise lose documents that should have been preserved in anticipation of this litigation.

This is just one example (of many) where the failed FDA process allowed hidden dangers to harm so many patients. Our family, friends and neighbors deserve better.

  • Actos— We have also filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Alabama man who developed bladder cancer after being prescribed Actos for diabetes. I’ve written previously about the serious health risks of Actos. Now, as the first bellwether trial in Federal Court begins against manufacturer Takeda, the Judge in this case has also had to contend with issues of document destruction by the manufacturer. Here is what the Federal Court Judge said about Takeda’s conduct:

For the reasons that follow, this Court concludes relevant evidence was deleted by Takeda after the duty to preserve such evidence arose. The Court further finds, for the reasons that follow, the PSC has presented prima facie evidence that the evidence would have been both relevant and beneficial to the Plaintiffs’ cases within the MDL and of bad faith on the part of Takeda.

Can we tolerate drug companies hiding the truth and putting our loved ones in danger? Can we allow drug companies to avoid the rules that keep us safe?

  • Pradaxa— We are investigating the harmful effects of this blood thinner. The FDA approved Pradaxa in 2010 as an alternative to Coumadin (warfarin) for preventing blood clots. However, internal bleeding is a serious, and sometimes fatal, side effect. Unlike warfarin, there is no known remedy for internal bleeding caused by Pradaxa. Since 2010, the drug has resulted in numerous complaints of bleeding and death. The FDA is currently investigating these serious health issues. In December, the Federal Judge overseeing the discovery process in these injury lawsuits found the company’s executives acted in “bad faith” concerning the company’s “lost” files. In other words, the company destroyed or lost key documents related to the safety of its drug. The Judge fined the company almost $1 Million and ordered certain foreign executives to appear for depositions. The manufacturer appealed. The appellate court reversed the requirement that the foreign executives appear for deposition but allowed the monetary penalties to stand.

These are just a few examples of a system that places quick, massive profit before the health and safety of consumers. Our families and communities deserve better. Companies that conceal vital information related to patient safety should be held accountable for this conduct.

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The Blackwell Law Firm helps patients across Alabama who have suffered serious injuries due to a bad drug or dangerous medical device. If you have questions, give us a call. Consultations are always free and confidential.