Los Angeles Judge Names Avandia Lawsuits Pretrial Committee
By Jim Greene
Published on March 24, 2010
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has appointed a steering committee to coordinate pretrial proceeding for more than 3,000 lawsuits against the makers of the prescription diabetes drug Avandia® (rosiglitazone maleate). Plaintiffs claim the medication causes an increased risk of heart problems that can be fatal.
The Avandia® Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP) Steering Committee appointed by Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl will be the primary point of contact for all law firms that have filed cases in California. The purpose of the JCCP is to reduce duplication of efforts in pretrial proceedings for similar lawsuits, as a means of bringing cases to trial more quickly.
Defendant GlaxoSmithKlein (GSK) markets Avandia® for use in regulating blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Plaintiffs accuse GSK of negligence for not adequately warning patients of the possibility of side effects when Avandia® was first released, in 1999. It was not until ordered to do so by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 that GSK strengthened its warnings about the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and angina.
The revised warning now advises against starting patients on Avandia® if they have severe heart failure, defined as "very poor pumping ability of the heart," possibly the result of damage to the muscles of the heart wall. It also advises against taking the medication at all for those whose heart failure symptoms include shortness of breath or swelling. Risks are said to be higher in patients taking nitrates or insulin.
If you have lost a loved one or suffered heart attack or other medical issues due to taking Avandia®, you need to contact an attorney experienced in product liability, personal injury, and wrongful death lawsuits. Your attorney will fight for your right to compensation for medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
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