Pharmaceutical companies have made some incredible breakthroughs when it comes to developing drugs that can help people cope with a variety of conditions. In some cases, these drugs can provide a life-changing solution for people who suffer from painful and debilitating conditions. For all their benefits, however, pharmaceuticals can pose serious and life-threatening dangers to patients. Two of the most recent drugs to come under scrutiny for posing an unreasonable risk to patients are Prilosec and Nexium. Both drugs are manufactured by AstraZeneca and fall within the pharmaceutical category of proton pump inhibitors. This type of medication is commonly prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). First approved in 1988 under the brand name Losec, Prilosec is a first-generation proton pump inhibitor. Nexium is a second-generation version of the drug that was marketed as an improved version of Prilosec.
According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), proton pump inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. The risk of developing this condition increases when the patient takes the drug over a prolonged period of time. Cases involving kidney-related conditions have already surfaced in patients who have taken Nexium and Prilosec. A man in Tennessee, for example, has been diagnosed as having interstitial nephritis, renal failure, and a heart attack after taking Prilosec and Nexium pursuant to a physician’s prescription.
In a dangerous drug case, the plaintiff can bring a variety of causes of action in order to pursue compensation. One of the most common types of claims is a product liability claim. This cause of action imposes a strict liability standard on drug manufacturers. Unlike a negligence action, in which the plaintiff must show that the defendant was at fault, in a strict liability claim the plaintiff need only show that the defendant caused a tortious act to happen.
To prevail, the plaintiff must show that the drug is unreasonably dangerous as designed or that the prescription the plaintiff received deviated from its intended design, resulting in a manufacturing defect. It is also common for a plaintiff to allege that the product is defective because the defendant failed to provide sufficient warnings and instructions with the drug.
If you or someone you love has suffered kidney-related injuries or other damages after taking Nexium or Prilosec, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced and dedicated Nexium lawyers at Moll Law Group are currently investigating and reviewing claims associated with AstraZeneca’s Prilosec and Nexium products. We have represented victims throughout the United States, including in Illinois, California, Texas, and Florida. We understand how daunting and intimidating the judicial process can be, especially when it comes to complex cases involving pharmaceuticals. We provide a free consultation to help you learn about your situation and the legal remedies that may be available to you. Call us at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.