Over the years, you may have heard of the many celebrated pharmaceutical lawsuits that rocked the industry. Some issues involve not just ordinary people but large corporations that are bound by the ethics and provisions of the vast healthcare industry. It’s in these cases that thousands, if not millions, of dollars have been spent from filing to settlement.
Some of these cases were partially settled, but some are ongoing battles that still need the court’s disposition. Whether it’s for your safety or risk concerns, it’s best you know a little something about them.
Some Pharma Cases to Highlight
- The Johnson & Johnson Opioid Lawsuits
It’s a lawsuit that came from the allegations that Jonson & Johnson, the producers of opioid medications, allegedly downplayed the risks of opioid addiction while overstating their benefits. According to the plaintiffs, these false advertising or misrepresentations led to widespread overprescription and misuse of opioid medications.
These over-marketing schemes were said to be the reasons why doctors over-prescribed and patients became more dependent. It’s particularly true with those pain-reducing meds produced by Johnson and Johnson’s subsidiary Jahnsen.
Should you or your loved one feel aggrieved or harmed by these opioid medications, it’s best to reach out to legal experts to help you with this case. In the meantime, you can secure medical or check-up records to give proof of your negative experience with these pain medications.
Whether in medical or accident lawsuits, these assessments can be your ticket to getting justice and winning your claims.
- The Reckitt Benckiser, Indivior Lawsuits
These are cases brought against Reckitt Benckiser, Indivior, and other defendants for allegedly manufacturing Suboxone film without adequate information or warning about its downside. The plaintiffs contend that Indivior, along with its parent company, failed to warn consumers about the potential dental health risks associated with Suboxone film originally for treating opioid dependence.
It’s actually an anti-opioid administered as a dissolvable film under the tongue. The focus of these lawsuits alleged that its acidic ingredients contribute to serious dental problems, like tooth decay, erosion of tooth enamel, cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Suboxone lawsuits are now an MDL because of the multiple similar cases filed in different federal districts across the United States. It was consolidated to allow for more efficient and streamlined pretrial proceedings. They’re transferred to one federal district court for coordinated and more efficient pretrial proceedings instead of individual trials in multiple locations.
So, if you or your loved one got harmed by Suboxone, be in the know that it’s already a multidistrict litigation under the federal district court near you. Its developments may also be something you can watch out for this year.
- Purdue Pharma OxyContin Lawsuits
Purdue Pharma, in these cases, faced extensive litigation because of its role in the opioid crisis, particularly with its product or drug Oxycontin. It alleged that Purdue engaged in deceptive marketing tactics to promote OxyContin as a safe and effective pain management solution. But they failed to warn about its addictive content, Oxycodone.
Allegedly, this active ingredient is a potent opioid agonist that binds opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. It produces pain relief, euphoria, and relaxation. Its ability to produce these feelings of pleasure poses the risks of tolerance, dependence, and addiction if misused.
It was contended that the addictive nature of OxyContin has contributed to the opioid crisis, with widespread misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths associated with it. As a result, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in September 2019 in its efforts to resolve and settle $6 Billion for the thousands of lawsuits filed against them.
But this was challenged by the Biden administration around the third quarter of 2023, saying that the settlement and bankruptcy application was only a way of Purdue Pharma owners’ trick to protect its interests. This controversy is one ongoing lawsuit that you may continue looking out for in 2024.
Bottom Line
Keeping your eye on past high pharmaceutical lawsuits and current legal battles in the industry is vital for every person involved in healthcare. It’s in these cases, like those against opioid makers, that the future of medicine and healthcare is shaped.
These lists of cases here will provide rich insights to guide you as you manage your medications and their probable risks. Keep safe.
