The Avalanche of Drug Lawsuits Continues
May 11 2006
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Even while Merck is still dealing with roughly 11,500 lawsuits over the painkiller Vioxx, other companies are bracing for lawsuits over a number of other widely used medications.
- Wyeth for Prempro, a hormone therapy drug
- Johnson and Johnson for Ortho-Evra, a birth control patch
- AstraZeneca for Seroquel, an antipsychotic drug
- Merck (again) for Fosamax, an osteoporosis medication
These drugs have combined annual sales of nearly $7 billion. They are used by millions of patients.
Stroke, Breast Cancer, Jaw Decay
Fosamax has been linked with severe jaw decay. Seroquel causes weight gain, Ortho-Evra has been associated with stroke-causing blood clots, and Prempro may cause an increased risk of breast cancer.
Concealing the Effects
The lawsuits are making it difficult for drug companies to rebuild their image in a time of public outrage over high drug prices and hidden side effects. The lawsuits allege that the various drug makers concealed side effects and marketed their medicines deceptively.
The first lawsuit over Prempro is expected to come to trial this summer. Johnson & Johnson has already begun to settle some Ortho-Evra cases.