Lipitor Lawsuit Reaches Over 2,400 Cases
The lawsuit alleging that the cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor causes Type 2 diabetes continues to grow as the first bellwether cases in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) move closer to trial.
More than 2,400 cases are currently pending before Judge Richard M. Gergel in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. Plaintiffs in the case state that they developed Type 2 diabetes after taking the statin drug Lipitor and now must face additional health risks and loss of quality of life. They claim that Pfizer failed to warn them and misled consumers.
The first case to go to trial will be Wilma Daniels who filed her Lipitor lawsuit in February 2014, claiming Lipitor was “defective and unreasonably dangerous.” She accused Pfizer of “negligent and wrongful conduct,” according to the complaint.
Daniels maintained a healthy weight and diet even after she began taking the drug in 1998 to reduce her risk of heart disease. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes around 2004 and as a result, she must now struggle with an increased risk of heart disease, kidney damage, blindness and nerve damage.
Dr. David Handshoe, an expert for the plaintiff, provided a report stating that Daniels suffered from statin-induced Type 2 diabetes.
Lipitor was approved in 1996 and is one of the best selling drugs of all time. The drug has made Pfizer more than $131 billion since its release, peaking at $9 billion annually. Even after generics became available, Lipitor sales stayed strong thanks to aggressive marketing by the drug manufacturer.
Last year, the FDA expanded their warning on the use of statin drugs saying that while the benefits outweigh the risks, the list of risks is still worthy of concern.
In addition to increased risk of high blood sugar and Type 2 diabetes, the FDA also cautioned that statins are linked to liver damage, memory loss, and potential muscle damage.
Concerned patients shouldn’t simply stop taking their medication, but rather talk to their health care professionals. The consequences to your heart could be far greater than your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after taking the statin drug Lipitor, you have rights. Talk to a qualified consultant at Balkin & Mausner to see what we can do for you by contacting us here or calling us at 1-888-751-5908. At Balkin & Mausner, we’re here for you.