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In July 2018, a handful of pharmaceutical companies voluntarily recalled the blood pressure medication valsartan. Certain batches of valsartan dating back from 2012 were voluntarily recalled because of the discovery of a probable human carcinogen in the medication, or a substance that could cause cancer.
The contamination of valsartan is linked to a faulty manufacturing process. The FDA traced the contaminated and recalled valsartan products to two Chinese manufacturers (Zhejiang Huahai and Zheijiang Tianyu) and Hetero Labs Limited in India.
Valsartan lawsuits seek to collect monetary damages for people who took valsartan and were later diagnosed with cancer. The lawsuits claim that some batches of valsartan from 2012 to 2018 were contaminated with a likely cancer-causing chemical. If you took valsartan and later developed cancer, here’s what you need to know about filing a claim.
What To Know About Valsartan Lawsuits
Valsartan lawsuits allege that several batches of the blood pressure medication were contaminated with potentially cancerous chemicals.
The lawsuits are being filed on behalf of people who took valsartan for more than one year and were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Some lawsuits also represent people who suffered liver or kidney injuries that required a hospital visit.
The probable human carcinogens discovered in valsartan products include:
- N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
- N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)
- N-Nitroso-N-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid (NMBA)
Valsartan Recalls
Valsartan medications have been voluntarily recalled by several pharmaceutical manufacturers. In addition to some valsartan medications, this recall also includes certain batches of losartan and irbesartan medications. These medications also reduce blood pressure and are the same class of drug as valsartan, which are called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB).
Although several valsartan products have been recalled, not every product featuring valsartan is affected, including brand names like Diovan, Exforge, and Entresto.
However, these valsartan drug combinations have been recalled:
- amlodipine and valsartan
- amlodipine, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
- valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
Manufacturers Who Recalled Valsartan
Since the valsartan voluntary recalls featured specific batches of the medication, you may want to learn who manufactured the product you took as well as the lot number on the prescription bottle or warning insert. You can then consult with your pharmacist to confirm if your valsartan medication was affected by contamination and recalls.
To find additional info on the recalled batches of valsartan, visit the FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts webpage.
However, the manufacturers who recalled valsartan medications include:
- Major Pharmaceuticals (valsartan 80mg and 160mg USP tablets)
- Prinston Pharmaceutical Inc. (valsartan 40mg, 80mg, 160mg, and 320mg tablets; valsartan HCTZ 80mg/12.5mg, 160mg/25mg, 320mg/12.5mg, and 320mg/25mg tablets)
- Teva Pharmaceuticals (valsartan and valsartan HCTZ tablets; amlodipine/valsartan combination tablets; amlodipine/valsartan/HCTZ tablets )
- Camber Pharmaceuticals (valsartan USP 40mg, 80mg, 160mg, and 320mg tablets)
- Torrent Pharmaceuticals (valsartan/amlodipine/HCTZ tablets)
- Mylan (amlodipine and valsartan tablets; valsartan tablets; valsartan HCTZ tablets; all valsartan-containing products)
- Aurobindo Pharma (amlodipine valsartan tablets USP, valsartan HCTZ tablets USP, valsartan tablets USP)
- American Health Packaging (valsartan tablets USP)
Has There Been A Valsartan Settlement?
There has yet to be any agreement involving a valsartan settlement. Many dangerous drug cases take years to reach an agreement or go to court. As of one year after the initial recalls, there were hundreds of valsartan lawsuits pending litigation.
Although many individual cases have been combined into a class action lawsuit, legal experts expect thousands of personal injury claims to be filed before any of these cases go to trial.
What To Do Before Filing A Valsartan Lawsuit
If you’re looking into filing a valsartan lawsuit, you’ll need a lawyer who specializes in both personal injury and product liability law. It’s important to consult with a qualified lawyer if you’re interested in moving your case forward.
Before reaching out to a lawyer, however, make sure you keep your valsartan medication bottle or pills. If your medication was involved in a recall, then your lawyer will want the medication for both evidence and testing.
Compensation In A Valsartan Lawsuit
An experienced lawyer can help you collect damages for injuries in a valsartan lawsuit. These damages can help you recover from some of the loss or harm you suffered as a result of taking valsartan.
A skilled lawyer could help you recover damages for:
- medical expenses (both past and future)
- mental and physical pain and suffering from your injuries
- income that was lost because of your injuries
- other economic losses
- punitive damages (damages that punish the defendant for negligence)
The Link Between Valsartan And Cancer
Only certain injuries, including specific cancer diagnoses, are eligible for filing a valsartan lawsuit. Since valsartan was contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), the medication is now linked to several primary cancer types.
Primary cancers associated with valsartan include:
- liver cancer
- kidney cancer
- colorectal cancer
- lung cancer
- stomach cancer
- bladder cancer
- pancreatic cancer
NDMA Detected In Some Valsartan Batches
N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was once used in the United States to produce rocket fuel. Although it’s now only produced for research purposes, NDMA is considered an environmental containment and is found in various foods and beverages, including drinking water.
The detected levels of NDMA in valsartan products were found to be more than 1,000 times the amount of NDMA that people consume in drinking water on a daily basis. The FDA has estimated that there could be one extra cancer diagnosis for every 8,000 patients who took a daily high dose of contaminated valsartan (320mg) for four years.
A study conducted in Denmark in 2018 suggested that taking contaminated Valsartn could lead to a short-term risk for cancer.
Out of a group of over 5,000 participants who took valsartan between 2012 and 2017 with no history of cancer, almost 200 participants developed cancer after being exposed to contaminated valsartan. However, authors of the study noted that further research is needed.
Valsartan Lawsuits Vs. Zantac Lawsuits
A little over one year after valsartan lawsuits were being filed because of contamination, a popular heartburn medication (Zantac) was also discovered to contain unsafe levels of NDMA. Although both valsartan and zantac lawsuits allege the medications were contaminated with NDMA, there is a key difference in the cases.
This key difference lies in how the products became contaminated. For Zantac, some lawsuits allege that the inherent chemical structure of ranitidine (generic Zantac) is unstable and can lead to the production of NDMA in the human body. Valsartan lawsuits, however, claim the contamination was the result of a faulty manufacturing process.
How To Qualify For A Valsartan Lawsuit
Valsartan-related litigation can be complicated. Defendants may reside in foreign countries, and the grounds on which your lawyer files for a lawsuit will depend on the specific details of your case. Because an estimated 1.5 million people may have taken contaminated valsartan in 2018 alone, thousands of cases have been filed since the voluntary recalls were announced.
If you took valsartan in 2014 or later for more than one year and were diagnosed with cancer, you may qualify for filing a valsartan lawsuit. You may also qualify if you were hospitalized for at least three days because of valsartan. Learn more about the types of lawsuits you can file, but contact a lawyer as soon as you can because of statute of limitation laws.
Valsartan Personal Injury Lawsuits
Valsartan personal injury lawsuits make up a significant number of valsartan-related claims. Thousands more personal injury lawsuits may be filed. These claims allege that contaminated valsartan caused plaintiff’s cancer, liver damage, or other injuries.
Personal injury lawsuits seek to hold negligent parties responsible for causing the plaintiff harm or injury. For valsartan-related cases, your lawyer will try to hold pharmaceutical companies liable for manufacturing defects or inadequate warning labels that directly resulted in your diagnosis of cancer or liver injury.
Valsartan Wrongful Death Claims
A valsartan wrongful death claim is a kind of personal injury lawsuit where negligent parties are believed to be the cause of someone’s death. Spouses, children, and any person financially dependent on the deceased can file a wrongful death claim. A valsartan wrongful death claim alleges that a loved one died as a result of taking contaminated valsartan.
Valsartan Class Action Lawsuits
There have been a few class action lawsuits filed on behalf of consumers who want their money back after buying a medication that’s contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical. Class action lawsuits combine individual claims into one case to collect damages that equal the cost of the medication.
Although some class action lawsuits have been filed against valsartan pharmaceutical companies, several other individual claims have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL). Unlike class action lawsuits, which combine individual lawsuits into one, cases in a MDL remain separate.
Valsartan Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)
Because of the volume of individual valsartan-related claims, several cases have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in New Jersey. By consolidating cases into one federal court, MDL can speed up pretrial proceedings for similar cases involving valsartan.
In time, some of these individual claims will make it to trial or reach a settlement. Once these “bellwether” trials occur, it will set a standard for future settlements and negotiations involving valsartan-related claims.
Valsartan Cancer Lawyers Serving The U.S.
If you took valsartan during 2014 or after and later developed cancer or other injuries that led to hospitalization, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Since valsartan-related cases are moving forward with litigation, it’s important to file a claim as soon as you’re able.
At Florin|Roebig, our dangerous drug and valsartan lawyers will assess your case and determine your cause for legal action.
Our team of qualified lawyers includes:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Michael L. Walker, B.C.S.
- Chase P. Florin, B.C.S.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Luca G. Esposito
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- Nicholas S. Costantino
- Josh T. Walker
- Jordan A. Kolinski
- Catherine J. Sams
- Matthew L. McMullen
- Michael A. Ossi, O.C.
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
- Andrew M. Leone, O.C.
- Nollys R. Solarte, O.C.
- Brian R. Dettman, O.C.
Contact Florin|Roebig To File A Valsartan Cancer Claim Today
The pharmaceutical companies responsible for contaminating valsartan medications are being sued for causing personal injuries. Because the MDL in New Jersey is an active and ongoing lawsuit, it’s important to consult with a lawyer if you believe your cancer diagnosis or other injuries were the direct result of taking valsartan.
At Florin|Roebig, we offer free case evaluations to get you started with the legal process. To learn about valsartan lawsuits, or start your free case evaluation, contact Florin|Roebig today.