(June 18, 2018) Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid and Protonix lawsuits are being filed in federal and state courts across the country. More than 4,250 proton pump inhibitor lawsuits have been filed in federal court as of June 2018. The multidistrict litigation (MDL) court for PPI drugs was set up in August 2017 to help move similar cases through the legal process.
Nexium and Prilosec lawsuits lead by the numbers, though the MDL also includes Prevacid and Protonix lawsuits. PPI lawsuits in the MDL claim these drugs used for stomach acid control have caused serious kidney problems, including chronic kidney disease (CKD).
PPI lawsuits were spurred in part by a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on February 1, 2016. That study concluded: “PPI use is associated with a 20%–50% higher risk of incident CKD. Future research should evaluate whether limiting PPI use reduces the incidence of CKD.”
Proton Pump Inhibitor Trials
There have been no proton pump inhibitor court trials as of June 18, 2018. These PPI lawsuits are in the very early stages of planning. They will likely culminate in bellwether trials. The first trial in these PPI cases is slated to begin in May 2020.
Bellwether Trials
Bellwether trials are informally considered “test cases” for MDLs. They can measure jury responses to arguments from both sides. The results of bellwether trials can typically affect any eventual settlements.
PPI Lawsuit Timeline
May 2016: The first Nexium kidney damage lawsuits were filed against AstraZeneca.
February 2017: The federal MDL panel denied a motion to combine 39 PPI lawsuits into an MDL. Those lawsuits concerned several different PPI makers and named different drugs.
July 2017: The federal panel reconsidered requests to create an MDL.
August 2017: The MDL panel centralized 161 PPI lawsuits into one action in a New Jersey federal court. Five PPI makers were named in that action.
May 2018: The total number of PPI lawsuits filed in the MDL grew to exceed 4,200.
May 2020: Both plaintiff and defense sides requested that the first bellwether trial open in May 2020.
Because these drugs have been popular for a long time, plaintiffs’ attorneys expect the MDL could include several thousand more PPI lawsuits.
PPI Side Effects trigger Lawsuits
PPI lawsuits claim Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid and Protonix cause kidney-related complications, including full-blown kidney failure. Some people who have developed kidney complications have filed many of the lawsuits, but some have been filed by those who have lost a loved one to fatal kidney complications.
PPI Lawsuits claim the drugs caused:
• Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN)
• Kidney disease
• Kidney failure
• Kidney injury
Accusations Against Makers of Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix:
• Negligence
• Misbranding
• Deceptive Advertising
• Negligent Misrepresentation
• Fraud
• Failure to Warn
• Accepting Kickbacks
• Designing, Manufacturing, Selling Defective Products
PPI Brands and Manufacturers
The proton pump inhibitor MDL involves four different PPI brands and their manufacturers.
• Nexium (esomeprazole) AstraZeneca
• Prilosec (omeprazole) AstraZeneca
• Prilosec OTC (omeprazole) Proctor & Gamble
• Prevacid (lansoprazole) Takeda Pharmaceuticals
• Protonix (pantoprazole) Pfizer
Proton Pump Inhibitor Lawsuit Help
If you or a loved one suffered kidney problems, including kidney disease, interstitial nephritis, kidney failure or other kidney injury after taking a PPI drug, contact an experienced drug injury lawyer for a free legal consultation regarding a potential Proton Pump Inhibitor Lawsuit.
Related
- Protonix Kidbney Disease Lawsuit
- Nexium Lawsuit
- PPI-Kidney Failure Lawsuit | Lawyer
- Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Kidney Disease
by Matthews & Associates
