Drugmaker Pays Nearly $200 Million To Settle Seroquel Lawsuits

Virginia (VA) Dangerous Drug Injury Lawyers
Offices in VA Beach, Hampton & Elizabeth City, NC

Dangerous Drugs & Devices/Product Recalls

8/12/2010
Richard N. Shapiro
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Drugmaker Pays Nearly $200 Million To Settle Seroquel Lawsuits

The London-based pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca will pay $198 million according to the Associated Press to settle roughly 18,000 U.S. lawsuits claiming that the drug Seroquel caused diabetes and other dangerous side effects. About eight thousand similar product liability lawsuits against the drug company are still pending in court.

Seroquel (generic name quetiapine fumarate) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The company is alleged to have marketed the drug for unapproved or "off label" uses such as depression or insomnia. In addition, they allegedly failed to issue appropriate warnings about serious side effects. Thousands of lawsuits brought by users of Seroquel allege the medication led to rapid, significant weight gain and diabetes, as well as depression. Some elderly patients with dementia have died after taking this drug.

In early 2010, AstraZeneca, which also manufacturers Nexium, paid $520 million to settle U.S. Justice Department charges that it overpromoted Seroquel. Still, the company may not be getting the message. Last month, for example, the FDA ordered the company to stop using a promotional letter for Seroquel XR that failed to contain a diabetes warning.

Global sales of Seroquel totaled a staggering $4.9 billion in 2009 according to the Wall Street Journal, the company's second-biggest seller behind Nexium, and the fifth best-selling drug in the world. AstraZeneca, said to be the world's sixth largest drug manufacturer in terms of revenue, has denied that it tried to sweep the side effect risks of Seroquel under the rug and says it remains "committed to a strong defense effort." Not surprising. Many drug companies under fire for causing serious side effects routinely deny any wrongdoing.

While $198 million seems like a big number, the latest settlement works out to roughly $11,000 per case, which may be woefully inadequate to compensate the victims for their injuries. Let's not forget, people may have developed diabetes because of this dangerous drug. That's a condition that could remain with them for the rest of their life.

Most medications have some side effects, but there are times when the potential side effects outweigh any benefits for large numbers of patients. When that happens, patients injured by dangerous drugs have an undeniable right to receive compensation for their pain and suffering. Drug manufacturers will often try to deny responsibility for the harm their products cause and keep lawsuits from coming to trial as long as possible. Those efforts usually just delay final judgments for or settlements with patients.

RH

Labels: AstraZeneca bipolar disorder dangerous drug depression diabetes FDA insomnia off-label drug use prescription drug product liability quetiapine fumarate schizophrenia Seroquel side effects

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases fo victims of dangerous drugs and prescription drug errors. Check out our dangerous drug information page to learn more about side effects and recalls. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth and Suffolk if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Our firm has been recognized as one of the best injury law firms in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report since 2010. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and have been recognized as the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis were also named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of practicing lawyers are chosen to receive this honor.

In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.

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Drugmaker Pays Nearly $200 Million To Settle Seroquel Lawsuits

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