Zofran Lawsuit Plaintiffs Welcome Consolidation Of Cases

November 18, 2015 – – ZofranLegal.com reports on a recent transfer order from the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation which agreed to consolidate current Zofran birth defect lawsuits into a single courtroom in the District of Massachusetts. The process of forming the cases into multidistrict litigation is able to be done because of similarities among the cases filed. The consolidation is designed to help the litigation process run more smoothly and efficiently, and to conserve the resources of everyone involved.

Plaintiffs have applauded this decision, as it should help them to avoid different rulings by different judges, and to eliminate duplicate discovery. Those involved in the cases all similarly allege that use of Zofran by pregnant mothers caused their babies to be born with birth defects. The defects most commonly mentioned in the suit are cleft lip and palate, atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect, transposition of the greater vessels, tetralogy of fallot, clubfoot, and kidney defects.

Across the U.S., it is estimated that 1 million women take Zofran (ondansetron) annually to treat nausea associated with morning sickness. These prescriptions are considered “off-label” due to the fact that the United States Food and Drug Administration never approved Zofran or tested it for safety for use by pregnant women. They approved Zofran in 1991 specifically to treat nausea and vomiting episodes for patients who had undergone chemotherapy, radiation, or anesthesia. After this approval, however, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline allegedly promoted the drug to pregnant mothers and Ob/Gyns, causing many to be prescribed the medication.

This is not the first time that Zofran has been scrutinized. In 2012, GSK faced civil and criminal charges from the United States Department of Justice due to its illegal promotion of several drugs, including Zofran. GSK agreed to settle these charges for $3 billion.

Additionally, several studies supporting plaintiff’s arguments have emerged. One found that children who were exposed to Zofran while developing in utero were twice as likely to develop cleft palate, while another found that exposure to the drug by a fetus increased the overall risk of congenital malformations (birth defects) by around 30%.

The attorneys at Monheit Law are working to ensure that as the cases in the current MDL await trial, others who may have cases of their own are able to file. If someone was prescribed Zofran while pregnant, and subsequently gave birth to a baby with defects, they may be entitled to compensation. These individuals are being offered free legal consultations at Monheit Law.

For additional information concerning Zofran lawsuits, or to ask questions, please contact Attorney Michael Monheit directly by calling 877-620-8411.

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Contact ZofranLegal.com:

Michael Monheit
1-877-620-8411
michael@monheit.com
1368 Barrowdale Road, Rydal, PA 19046

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