Defective Drugs

In fact, prescription drugs accounted for $328.6 billion of national health-related spending in the United States in 2016. ⁽¹⁾ According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2015–2016, 45.8% of the U.S. population used prescription drugs in the past 30 days.” ⁽²⁾

New drugs can bring new risks for people who take them. Adverse drug events (ADEs) can lead to serious medical complications or death.

In July 2018, a 9-year study (2006 to 2014) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Events Reporting System database found 902,323 serious outcomes were reported to the FDA, including 244,408 deaths and 72,141 disabilities. ⁽³⁾

New drugs must be approved by the FDA before they are sold. However, problems may still occur at any time — before, during, or after the approval process. In fact, many FDA-approved drugs have been linked with serious medical complications.

This is because drugs are tested only in a limited number of studies before being approved for the market. For this reason, it is important for patients and physicians to report drug adverse event to the FDA when such occur.

If you suffered severe complications or were hospitalized due to an adverse drug event, or if a relative died due to prescription drug-related complications, you may want to discuss your legal options with a knowledgeable attorney.

Weitz & Luxenberg may be able to help. We invite you to call us for a free consultation (833) 977-3437.

Consult your doctor before stopping any prescribed medication.

How Are Drugs Approved?

In 1938, Congress enacted the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FDC) Act. Since then, the drug approval process has continued to evolve.

In 1962, a sleeping pill called thalidomide, not approved for use in the U.S. due to efforts taken by Dr. Frances Kelsey at the FDA, resulted in thousands of babies being born with birth defects in Western Europe after their mothers had taken the drug during pregnancy. In response, Congress approved legislation requiring drug manufacturers to demonstrate to the FDA that any new drug is safe and effective for its intended use before selling it in the U.S. ⁽⁴⁾

To secure FDA approval, drug manufacturers must conduct limited laboratory, animal, and clinical tests to determine how new drugs work and whether they are safe for use in humans.

A team at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) composed of doctors, chemists, and other scientists reviews the evidence from these limited tests. If this group of FDA employees determines results presented from this testing demonstrate a level of safety and a measurable health benefit, the FDA may approve the drug. ⁽⁵⁾ In some cases, especially for particular classes of drugs, the FDA may approve a drug with the stipulation that additional postmarketing testing be conducted or that postmarketing safety monitoring of particular adverse events be performed by the manufacturer. ^{(6) (7)}

Potential Risks from New Drugs

Sometimes the tests do not reveal all the potential risks of a new drug. In addition, in some cases, drug manufacturers fail to present all their evidence, submit erroneous or falsified information, fail to report adverse events or other study protocol violations, or fail to protect the safety of clinical trial patients. ⁽⁸⁾

In addition, drug manufacturers may not communicate the risks of a drug to the public, even if the FDA discovers a problem at a clinical trial site during an inspection or after a medical journal publishes the results of a clinical trial. In fact, sometimes the problems can be substantial enough to cause or contribute to serious medical complications or even death.

Somewhere down the line, the FDA may require updated label instructions or warnings for complications, but, by then, the damage may have already been done. For some patients, the warning may come too late.

Adverse effects of medicines have spawned thousands of lawsuits in recent years.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help

For more than 30 years, Weitz & Luxenberg has been at the forefront of complex product liability-related litigation. Our attorneys have secured more than $17 billion in awards and settlements for clients.

Although past results are no guarantee of future success, Weitz & Luxenberg possesses the experience and resources necessary to pursue justice for clients harmed by the negligence of large drug companies.

If you have been injured by a defective drug, we can help you understand your legal options, beginning with a free consultation. Call us at (833) 977-3437 or fill out the form on this page. One of our representatives will be in touch with you shortly.