Pharmaceutical liability cases occur when an individual is injured by harmful medicine or a faulty medical device.
Hackard Law has been at the forefront of holding drug companies responsible for harmful pills, including Rezulin, Vioxx and Avandia.
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Fen Phen
Hackard Law is accepting new cases if you have been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension or require heart valve surgery.
Hackard Law is also accepting new cases if you filed the Orange Form to opt out of the class action by March 30, 2000, and have proof of your use of Fen Phen.
Anecdotal evidence indicates that it is only recently that many former fen phen (fen-phen) users have come to terms with the causes of current physical impairment. This realization often comes about after their physician's review of their echocardiograms.
While the August 1996 New England Journal of Medicine report on "Appetite Suppressants and the Risk of Pulmonary Hypertension" was widely reported at the time, many fen phen (fen-phen) users were not then symptomatic or diagnosed. Now four years later, many former users need heart valve surgery and / or have been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.
Valvular dysfunction and blood regurgitation are the injuries associated with fen phen (fen-phen) related injury. Again, some former users are just now being diagnosed with these disorders.
Victims of fen phen (fen-phen) have filed scores of lawsuits around the United States in both state and federal courts. We represent dozens of seriously injured people and we have been fully prosecuting these cases within the judicial confines allowed in the various state and federal coordinated litigation.
While statutes of limitation might impact later accepted cases, we are still reviewing new pulmonary hypertension and heart valve surgery cases and would be happy to speak with you. Please use our contact form or call us on our toll-free telephone number.
American Home Products' agreement to settle will not bind all those injured by fen-phen. While the American Home Chairman and Chief Executive John Stafford called the diet drug controversy a "distraction," this "distraction" will continue to impact the lives of thousands of former fen-phen users and their families. It is not wise for those who have pulmonary hypertension or heart valve surgery to be unrepresented.
If you have moderate to severe heart valve injuries or Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, contact us today for further information as to your rights.
This site is not authorized by the manufacturers of Fen Phen and is not the official site of AHP (Wyeth) or the class action settlement.
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Avandia®
What is Avandia?
Avandia is used to treat patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, a disease linked to obesity that afflicts 18 million people in the U.S. and 200 million people worldwide. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce adequate insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it does produce. Avandia works by increasing the patient's insulin sensitivity and improves glycemic control
Avandia is a compound of rosiglitazone maleate and is in the same class of drugs as Rezulin, a very dangerous drug associated with causing severe liver injury including liver failure curable only by a liver transplant. When Avandia was first introduced to the market, it was considered a breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes and seemed to provide a safer alternative to Rezulin. In 2006, Avandia's maker, GlaxoSmithKline profited greatly from the drug. It generated $2.2 billion in U.S. sales with approximately 13 million filled prescriptions.
Recent Developments
On May 21, 2007, a medical journal published a report suggesting that Avandia increases the risk of heart attacks and possibly deaths. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that collective studies conducted on 28,000 people revealed a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack in Avandia patients compared to those taking other diabetes drugs or no drugs. This finding is alarming especially because two-thirds of Type 2 diabetes patients already suffer from cardiovascular problems so a drug amplifying their risk of developing heart problems is especially dangerous to them. The complete report published by the New England Journal of Medicine can be found at: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa072761
The following day, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert on Avandia and urged patients to talk to their doctors about the new information and evaluate ongoing treatment options for their Type 2 diabetes. You can read the complete 2007 Safety Summary at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01636.html
Side Effects
Avandia is associated with a number of serious risks, most of them involving the cardiovascular system. These side effects include:
- Heart failure or damage
- Heart valve disease
- Edema
- Blood artery disease
- Heart attack
Other side effects of Avandia may include diabetic macular edema (a swelling of the retina that can interfere with vision). Symptoms of this condition include blurry or distorted vision and swelling of the ankle, leg, or feet.
Avandia in the News
The newly developed information regarding Avandia's dangers has placed the drug and drug manufacturers at the forefront of media attention. You can read about Avandia in the following articles:
Contact Us Today
If you have used or are currently using Avandia and are experiencing chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain in your left arm, irregular heartbeat, swelling of the legs or other symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease, you should immediately contact your physician.
If you believe you or someone you know may have suffered from the negative effects of Avandia, you owe it to yourself to speak to an attorney about your legal right to recover for your damages and injuries. Hackard & Holt has a wealth of experience in pharmaceutical product liability litigation. Our firm possesses the expertise and the resources necessary to obtain the best results for our clients. Contact our experienced and compassionate pharmaceutical attorneys today for a free evaluation of your case so we can hold the responsible parties accountable and achieve just compensation for you or your loved ones.
You can contact us for a free consultation by completing this confidential contact form or by calling 1-888-452-5805.
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Fentanyl
Hackard Law is active in representing clients whose loved ones have died from a defective Fentanyl patch (also known as a Duragesic).
The Fentanyl patch is a dermal patch containing an alcohol gel with varying Fentanyl doses. The patch provides a consistent administration of Fentanyl into body fats that then release the drug into the bloodstream over a 48- to 72-hour period. It is used for treating patients that require around-the-clock narcotic pain relief that cannot be effectively reduced by less powerful pain medication. It is the strongest known pain reliever for cancer pain, having an opioid potency 81 times stronger than morphine and 100 times stronger than heroin.
The FDA has released several health advisories on Fentanyl patches. In 2005, it warned of the overdose dangers and risks of mishandling Fentanyl patches.
Recently, in 2008, the companies Actavis and Johnson & Johnson, manufacturers of Fentanyl patches (also known as Duragesics), recalled transdermal systems because of a possible fold-over defect in the patch. Included was this precaution: “Exposure to Fentanyl gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, which may be fatal”. This design error could potentially lead to leaks and exposure of patients and others to the powerful drug.
There are serious dangers involving use of the Fentanyl patch even if it is not defective. Opiate tolerance must be proven through prior usage of another narcotic (such as morphine) before a patient can consider using the patch. Patients that are not opioid-tolerant cannot safely take Fentanyl. Even patients who are opioid- tolerant must be extremely careful when using the patch. Overdose of Fentanyl is life-threatening. Because of the nature of absorption, once Fentanyl is in the patient’s system it is extremely difficult to stop its course and effects. If a patch is defective (having a cut or other type of leak), an excessive amount of Fentanyl will leak into the patient’s bloodstream resulting, in many instances, in death.
If a loved one has died or been severely injured by a Fentanyl/Duragesic patch, you are entitled to effective legal representation. The manufacturer of a defective Fentanyl patch can and should be held responsible for the harm inflicted upon you or someone you love. Hackard Law can stand for you, represent your claim, and help you attain recovery. No amount of compensation can rectify a loved one’s death, but we can make sure your voice is heard under the full force of the law. Michael Hackard and his team pursue complex cases, and while proud of their legal expertise, they are always guided by a compassionate understanding of the client’s situation and the principle of justice. Please contact Hackard Law today.
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Vioxx®
Merck Voluntarily Recalls Vioxx® After Experts Claim it Can Cause Serious Injury
Vioxx, the trade name of the generic drug rofecoxib, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 1999, for the treatment of osteoarthritis, menstrual pain and the management of acute pain in adults. Merck & Co. Inc. voluntarily recalled this widely prescribed drug on September 30, 2004, amidst evidence that it drastically increased users’ risk of heart attack and stroke. The Vioxx recall is believed to be the most expensive drug recall in the history of the pharmaceutical industry.
A three-year study of 1,300 Vioxx users found 15 cases of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots; this was three times the number reported among participants taking a placebo. Although Merck maintains this risk was relatively low, it nonetheless removed Vioxx from the market to prevent further injury.
On August 19, 2005, a verdict was reached in the first Vioxx case to go to trial in the entire country. The result: a jury awarded $253 million in damages to Carol Ernst, the surviving widow of Robert Ernst. In 2001, Robert Ernst, a physically fit triathlete who had been taking Vioxx for tendonitis, died of a heart attack while sleeping.
If you or someone you love has taken Vioxx, please contact your physician to discuss the issues surrounding this dangerous drug. In addition, you should contact a qualified attorney to discuss possible legal remedies for the harm that this drug may have caused you.
Hackard Law has a wealth of experience in pharmaceutical product liability litigation. Our firm posseses the expertise and the resources necessary to obtain the best results for our clients. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case!
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Rezulin
On March 21, 2000 head of the FDA's center for Drug evaluation and Research stated that the "Continued use of Rezulin" posed an "unacceptable risk " to diabetes patients. At least 61 Rezulin users have died of liver failure. The total number of deaths is estimated to be as many as ten times higher than the reported 61 cases.
Doctors prescribed Rezulin to diabetics who took insulin but whose blood sugar was not well controlled. It was designed to help insulin (either your own or injected) work better, by drawing the sugar from your blood into the cells to supply energy.
Warner-Lambert, Rezulin manufacturer had downplayed the Rezulin liver damage concerns when seeking federal approval by assuring the Federal Drug Administration ("FDA") that the diabetes drug risk was low. Rezulin was a "fast track" drug that went through an abbreviated version of the FDA's approval process and was approved over the objections of several FDA scientists. After Rezulin was on the market, the FDA began receiving reports of patients suffering from liver failure after taking the drug. Rezulin was banned in England in December 1997 following the death of an American who took the drug.
The FDA soon ordered Warner-Lambert to put stronger liver toxicity warnings on the drug and an advisory committee recommended the drug be available to only a select group of patients -- those whose diabetes was not well-controlled by other drugs. The drug manufacturer, Warner-Lambert, successfully fought a Rezulin ban in the U.S. for 27 months before the FDA decided to prohibit sales of the drug on March 21, 2000. Warner-Lambert had strong reason to delay the banning: Rezulin is estimated to have made over $2.1 billion in sales. At its peak, the drug was prescribed 488,000 times in January of 1999.
Although the company found the risks of Rezulin to be outweighed by the benefits, Warner-Lambert knew as early as 1993 of the potentially life threatening Rezulin liver damage.
Eventually, at least 61 patients died of liver failure while taking Rezulin and another seven required liver transplants. There is strong reason to believe that there are hundreds and possibly thousands more with similar complications.
As announced on January 22, 2004 Pfizer (the company who acquired Warner-Lambert) set aside $955 million (after tax) to be used to cover all know Rezulin personal injury claims arising from the use of the drug. The one time charge against profits was said by Pfizer to be to be used in connection with the settlements reached with approximately 35,000 individuals who had cases or claims against the company. HH participated in this global settlement on behalf of hundreds of Rezulin users (our clients) and successfully saw a portion of these proceeds from the $955 million paid to clients who rightfully had a claim.
Government officials, pharmaceutical executives, scientists, and legal scholars will all look back on Rezulin as a tragic series of errors and misjudgments.
Hackard Law was successful in bringing hundreds of Rezulin cases to a negotiated settlement on behalf of its clients. Our skilled team of attorneys have investigated the facts, established the claims, determined which parties and insurance companies were to be held responsible, and then organized all of the details required when composing and presenting each case for settlement demand.
For most, the best protection will come from attorneys specialized in pharmaceutical litigation. Drug-related lawsuits have become all too common lately with companies putting profits and stock price above health risks to the public-at-large. If you need legal consultation concerning a defective drug call Hackard Law 888-452-5805 today.
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