June 18, 2009

Is 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
StumbleUpon Toolbar del.icio.us Digg it reddit
Comments

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 AM

AZ 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 AM

Let's call these psychiatric substances what they are..
They're poisonous toxic chemicals ..
These drugs are not healers of the psyche, the mind or the emotions. They are snake oil chemicals and the pharmaceutical companies know that the easiest people to exploit are those who have troubles with their psyches, minds and emotions.

Posted by: truthman30 at June 18, 2009 04:34 PM

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?

1. let us all ignore that this drug has severely damaged, even killed people, and will continue to do so
2. let us ignore it has caused irreversible side effects including TD, diabetes, sudden heart attack, and countless negative others
3. let us ignore the misinformation and skewed data campaign by Big Pharma and Psychiatry
4. let us ignore the obvious conflicts of interest perpetrated upon millions out of pure greed
5. let's us ignore that this drug does not treat anything {including your trumped up and misleading genetic and chemical imbalance theories}; since it is basically just a powerful sedative which acts as a chemical restrain upon both the mind and body.
6. let us all ignore the lack of science and proof associated with your dubious claim "thousands it's helped"

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 AM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?






pic1.jpg

Patient Blogs. Sites.
Doctor Blogs. Sites.
Activists. News.
Social Networking. Forums.
Science. Big Pharma. Ethics.
Current Affairs
Seattle Stuff
Smoking. Stuff.

Info
About Furious Seasons
Email
Other Articles
ZYPREXA Documents
Alt ZYPREXA Documents Source
Blakemore-Brown Transcript

 Subscribe in a reader

Search


Recent Entries
$99 Left
$114 To Go
Winter Fundraiser, $134 To Go, Final Day
Ruth Lilly, Eli Lilly Heiress, Prozac Beneficiary Dies At 94
Winter Fundraiser, Final Day, Less Than $200 To Go
UCLA Psychiatrist Criticizes DSM-5
Winter Fundraiser, Barely $200 To Go
Most Popular Posts Of 2009
Winter Fundraiser, Less Than $300 Left, Let's Wrap It Up
Senate Health Care Bill Contains $1.25 Billion Gift To Sen. Stabenow
Travel Day, Comment Approval May Be Intermittent
Winter Fundraiser, Close But Stalled
Senate Health Care Reform Bill Contains Controversial MOTHERS Act, Abortion Study
Adult ADHD And Sleep Problems
Vic Chesnutt Dead At 45, Possible Suicide
Recent Comments

Oh God on Is Seroquel Litigation Going Down The Toilet?

Michelle on Is Seroquel Litigation Going Down The Toilet?

truthman30 on Is Seroquel Litigation Going Down The Toilet?

The Flip Side on Is Seroquel Litigation Going Down The Toilet?

Stephany on Is Seroquel Litigation Going Down The Toilet?

Archives
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
Resources
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
National Institute of Mental Health
McMan Web
Powered by
Movable Type 3.2