June 18, 2009Is Seroquel Litigation Going Down The Toilet?Recent reports indicate that several of the initial Seroquel cases brought by plaintiffs against AstraZeneca, the antipsychotic's maker, have been dismissed in Delaware Superior Court. Two were dismissed due to a judge's finding that plaintiffs' expert witness could not tie plaintiffs' diabetes to use of the drug and, in another case, a case was dismissed on the odd grounds that plaintiff hadn't listed possible proceeds from the case on a financial disclosure form. While I'd imagine plaintiffs' attorneys will appeal the dismissals, these cases make it clear just how hard AZ's attorneys are fighting various Seroquel lawsuits. To date, AZ has not settled a single Seroquel related case among the 15,000 or so claims it faces including several brought by various states such as Arkansas over accusations the company knew it was selling a diabetes-inducing drug and accusations of off-label marketing of the drug, among other accusations. No cases have gone to trial either. Word amongst legal sources is that AZ's lawyers are using every possible angle to keep cases from going to trial or to grind plaintiffs into submission through the sheer expenditure of time. Fair enough. Contrast that, however, with Eli Lilly's approach in various Zyprexa cases--fight and then settle. To date, Lilly has settled $2.7 billion in claims concerning its handling and marketing of the drug Zyprexa, an antipsychotic similar to Seroquel, and is quite possibly in a position where it may have to settle other Zyprexa cases in New York federal court for billions more. Why the companies have pursued such different legal strategies is hard to tease out. Janssen/J&J also face many lawsuits--including ones brought by various states--over its handling and marketing of Risperdal, another antipsychotic. So far, none of those cases are in advanced enough states to determine how J&J's lawyers will respond to plaintiffs' claims. Posted by Philip Dawdy at June 18, 2009 09:17 AM
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I've heard that AZ has spent millions on legal defense going to every length possible to prevent this from entering court. I hope that a lawfirm kicks some ass and does their job right and takes them out, to the tune of bankrupting AstraZeneca. Far too many people have been injured on that drug, and diabetes is an unwanted side effect that is a permanent, lifetime body damage. There is no monetary replacement on value of life and life that has been cut short just because someone was given a pill. The fact that AZ has documents stating the company was aware of diabetes and the drug was still marketed, in my opinion makes them criminals, in the most obvious way. The fact that the FDA will most likely approve this drug for use in children under age 18 is disgusting, how that panel of people can do that is beyond belief. Why would ANYONE take a drug such as Zyprexa or Seroquel while those drugs are in litigation? why would a doctor prescribe them? I'm sick of this pharmaceutical nightmare. When is the general public going to wise up and see what is happening? Melissa Del Bello, on the advisory board of CABF the most prominent internet support groups for parents of "bpkids dot org" is one of the most conflicted KOL's right up there with the bipolar child kingpin Biederman. She has a personal "business" she set up that AstraZeneca "donated" $60,000 to, and her address for the business is the place she works! She failed to report AZ income just like Biederman and Senator Grassley is the one who dug up all of the information I wrote about here. It's a crime against humanity, we are just pawns in this financial pharma market, targets, and the drug companies do not give a shit if you are damaged or dead from using their drug. Just my opinion. Posted by: Stephany at June 18, 2009 10:34 AMAZ is playing legal hard ball to the tune of a billion dollars defending a known poison. What they should, or maybe have not realized yet; many litigants will not settle any of their cases now (that will no doubt increase both the legal cost and penalties for AZ), due directly to AZ's cold and calculated take no prisoners strategy. This in the end could very well send AZ into bankruptcy, and drive it out of business. You would have to wonder how their share holders will feel then? Posted by: The Flip Side at June 18, 2009 11:33 AMLet's call these psychiatric substances what they are.. I am currently taking Seroquel. I thank god for that drug and the psychiatrists that prescribe it. Granted I suffer from the symptoms associated with taking the medication, but they are better than the alternative of cycling between maniac and depressive episodes. I've been taking Seroquel for 2 1/2 years, and I feel, act, and think like a rational human being. So don't bash a drug based solely on those it's negatively effected, there are thousands it's helped. Posted by: Michelle at June 23, 2009 08:04 AM"I thank god for that drug and the psychiatrists that prescribe it" Which God would that be, the J. Biederman god? "So don't bash a drug based solely on those it's negatively effected, there are thousands it's helped." Let's look at what we should all ignore here from your holy than thou drugs are great position: I won't even debate that you "act, and think like a rational human being" since I'm sure NAMI, Big Pharma, and Psychiatry think and act like rational people also? I honestly don't see where it has helped anyone in reality. But then fortunately you have the gift to choice whether to take this drug or not. How about all those kids and others that have no choice? I'm sure they will thank you and all those great psychiatrist from their wellness grave. Posted by: Oh God at June 23, 2009 10:21 AMPost a comment
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