Two More Lawsuits Blame Diabetes Drug Avandia for Heart Disease, Stroke
By Jim Greene
Published on December 26, 2009
Litigation mounted recently against drug maker GlaxoSmithKlein (GSK) over alleged heart disease and strokes caused by its diabetes drug Avandia® (rosiglitazone maleate). Two more lawsuits were filed in an Illinois circuit court; one, with 98 plaintiffs, was the fourth filed this year by the same team of three attorneys.
According to records of the St. Clair County Circuit Court in Belleville, John J. Driscoll of St. Louis, Christopher Cueto of Belleville, and Robert L. Salim of Natchitoches, La., will represent lead plaintiff Carmen Colon and 97 others in a case filed Nov. 12. David R. Jones of Edwardsville, Ill., will represent lead plaintiff Edgar Bennett and 30 others in a case filed Nov. 16.
Timing of Company Warning is Central Issue
A central issue in Avandia® litigation is GSK's failure to warn patients about possible cardiovascular side effects from the time of the drug's introduction in 1999 until the Food and Drug Administration ordered the warnings in 2007. The company's warning statement now includes the possibility of causing or worsening heart failure, particularly related to "very poor pumping ability of the heart."
Allegations have centered on damage to the heart wall muscles responsible for pumping blood. The possibility of stroke has also been raised, although GSK does not address that issue in its warning.
Additional Symptoms Listed for Women
Warnings specific to women taking Avandia® are included. They are increased risk of pregnancy, increased risk of fractures, and the possibility of anemia and hypoglycemia. Women are advised to have liver tests before and while taking the drug.
If you or a loved one have taken Avandia® and suffered heart disease, stroke, or other cardiovascular problems, contact an experienced defective products/personal injury attorney right away. You may be entitled to financial compensation to help you deal with medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
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