Settlement of Valsartan Lawsuit Nears for Some

Plaintiffs sued Hetero, the manufacturer of valsartan, a generic blood pressure medication, because it was contaminated with carcinogens, and they alleged it caused cancer. The lawsuits were consolidated in 2019. These cases are coming closer to settlement. Recently, the United States District Judge Renée M. Bumb who is presiding over the multidistrict litigation ordered both sides to finalize a settlement agreement in all of the plaintiff groups; there are three groups, one for personal injury, another for economic loss, and still another for medical monitoring. The deadline was June 30. If you were harmed by Valsartan, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based lawyers of Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved.

Contact Moll Law Group About Your Valsartan Cancer Claim

Valsartan, manufactured safely by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. under the brand name Diovan, functions by relaxing a patient’s blood vessels. This improves flow and reduces pressure. When the patent expired, various generic manufacturers in China and India began selling the drug, which they made with a different manufacturing process. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigated claims that drugs manufactured overseas contained NDMA or N-nitrosodimethylamine or NDEA (N-nitrosodimethylamine).

In 2018, the generic Valsartan was recalled around the world because of its unacceptable levels of carcinogenic toxins. Many patients, including around 3 million Americans, had not known they were taking contaminated drugs that could seriously harm them.

More than 1200 Valsartan MDL lawsuits are active. There have been no trials as of yet. The plaintiffs’ lawsuits name numerous entities in the drug supply chain, not only manufacturers, but also many distributors.

After the court posted its settlement order, the legal community was uncertain whether all cases in the MDL would be settled, or only those that involve manufacturer Hetero. The lead counsel explained that most of the litigation isn’t settling—only 5% of the Valsartan lawsuits are cases brought against Hetero. Approval for the Hetero class action settlement and personal injury settlements are being sought; other defendants continue to face claims they must litigate.

The district court judge ordered the parties into negotiations within 90 days, to be presided over by retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider. The magistrate judge was essential to the settlements already reached.

The Valsartan lawsuit is a legal claim for monetary damages to compensate for the harm, typically cancer, caused by the medication. If you were injured by this drug, our attorneys may be able to pursue compensation for you in a product liability lawsuit. One of the common claims plaintiffs have raised in these lawsuits is that the medication was defectively manufactured. Another claim is that the pills had marketing defects, in that they were improperly labeled and failed to warn doctors and patients about the dangers. The theories under which plaintiffs can vary by state, and may include strict liability, negligence, or breach of warranty.

If you or a loved one were injured by Valsartan, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based dangerous drug attorneys of Moll Law Group. We represent injured people around the country. Please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.