Elmiron Lawsuits
Elmiron, a medication prescribed for interstitial cystitis manufactured by Janssen Scientific Affairs, has been subject to lawsuits claiming its use led to severe eye conditions like pigmentary or retinal maculopathy, with potentially serious consequences for vision. Settlements are likely underway.
Latest Updates in Elmiron Lawsuits
As of May 2025, 1,028 cases remain pending in multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. Elmiron settlements are expected in MDL 2973. Some cases could already have been settled confidentially. Lawyers are currently still accepting new cases.
- November 2023: Lawyers speculated bellwether trials are postponed as settlement negotiations are taking place. Some lawyers estimate potential settlements may total more than $800 million.
- August 2023: The court approved the plaintiffs’ motion to establish the Elmiron Fee Fund and Elmiron Expense Fund to receive and disburse common benefit funds. Each fund will be a qualified settlement fund.
- March 2023: Though the first bellwether was scheduled to start, it was postponed.
- February 2023: An example of an Elmiron lawsuit transferred into the MDL is Padelford v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., alleging failure to warn about the risk of eye injury.
- January 2023: Maria Windham v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., et al (20-cv-14670), the first bellwether test trial, was scheduled for March 2023, though it was later postponed.
Plaintiffs started filing lawsuits soon after the first studies tying Elmiron to a unique kind of pigmentary maculopathy surfaced in 2018. Janssen updated the label to include a warning for “changes in the retina of the eye (pigmentary maculopathy)” in 2020. But lawsuits claim patients developed eye problems after using the drug for years without adequate warnings.
Why Are People Filing Janssen Pharmaceuticals Lawsuits?
Plaintiffs suing Janssen Pharmaceuticals allege the company failed to warn the public that Elmiron could cause pigmentary maculopathy and other vision problems when used long-term. Cases also contend that Janssen Pharmaceuticals knew or should have known about the potential for risk.
The Elmiron label states patients may have to take the drug for at least six months before seeing benefits. Elmiron is the only oral drug approved for interstitial cystitis and many patients take it for years.
[Janssen Pharmaceuticals] ignored reports from patients and health care providers throughout the United States of Elmiron’s failure to perform as intended, and injuries associated with long-term use which led to the severe and debilitating injuries.
Despite a growing body of studies and reports of vision damage, there hasn’t been an Elmiron recall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning. In response, Janssen added a risk of pigmentary maculopathy changes to the retina to the drug’s warnings in 2020, but the company has not indicated it will issue a voluntary recall.
Injuries Named in Elmiron Lawsuits
The injuries plaintiffs claim in Elmiron lawsuits range from blurry vision to pigmentary maculopathy and other serious vision problems. Symptoms typically start within one year of taking Elmiron.
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty reading
- Distorted vision
- Eye pain
- Impaired dark adaptation
- Pigmentary maculopathy
- Retinal maculopathy
- Vision disturbances
People who may qualify to file an Elmiron lawsuit took the drug for at least two years. They’ve received a diagnosis of vision problems or began having vision problems on or after January 1, 2010.
Elmiron Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
The main determination for Elmiron lawsuit settlement amounts will be the extent of injuries the plaintiff experienced after taking the drug. In this case, it’s how much vision loss they sustained.
Some legal experts predict settlement amounts could range from $25,000 to $1,000,000.
Do I Qualify to File an Elmiron Lawsuit?
If you developed pigmentary maculopathy, retinal maculopathy or other serious vision problems after using Elmiron, you might be eligible for compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering and to recover the costs of medical treatment and lost wages.
An essential step towards getting justice is contacting an experienced attorney. Your attorney can assist with determining whether you have a claim and start the process of filing a lawsuit.
5 Cited Research Articles
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- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. (2025, May 1). MDL Statistics Report - Distribution of Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending. Retrieved from https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-May-1-2025.pdf
- United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. (2023, August 29). Court order establishing Elmiron Fee Fund and Elmiron Expense Fund. Retrieved from https://www.njd.uscourts.gov/sites/njd/files/MDL2973_EstablishCommonBenefitAccount.pdf
- U.S. District Court of New Jersey. (2022, October 12). MDL Case Management Order NO. 31. Retrieved from https://www.njd.uscourts.gov/sites/njd/files/MDL2973_CMO31.pdf
- U.S. District Court of New Jersey. (2021, July 16). Elmiron – MDL 2973 – Science Day Guide For Participants. Retrieved from https://www.njd.uscourts.gov/sites/njd/files/MDL2973_ScienceDayGuide.pdf
- U.S. District Court of New Jersey. (n.d.) Elmiron Case Management Orders. Retrieved from https://www.njd.uscourts.gov/elmiron-case-management-orders
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