Valsartan Lawsuits

Dozens of consumers have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers and distributors of valsartan following widespread recalls of tainted batches of the generic blood pressure medication.

The lawsuits allege the China-based drug manufacturer Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., its American affiliates and other companies peddled “worthless” and dangerous drugs “not fit for human consumption.” Some plaintiffs blame the contaminated drugs for causing them or loved ones to develop cancer.

In February 2019, some 43 valsartan cases were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in the District of New Jersey. The lawsuits, which include both class action and personal injury cases, are assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler.

MDLs create a streamlined process whereby one court can manage a number of similar cases. New cases filed in federal courts around the country can be added to an existing MDL.

The lawsuits stem from a July 2018 recall of several batches of valsartan that had been manufactured in China. The drugs were recalled because they were contaminated with the toxin N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. The chemical has caused cancer in laboratory animals and is a probable human carcinogen. It can also cause liver damage.

“All actions involve common factual questions arising out of allegations that plaintiffs purchased or used generic formulations of valsartan medications containing the nitrosamine impurities NDMA and/or NDEA; that these 5 impurities present a risk of cancer and liver damage; and that defendants knew, or should have known, of the impurities as early as 2012,” the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation wrote in its order that established the MDL.

According to an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the NDMA contamination likely arose from changes in the way Zhejiang Huahai manufactured the popular blood pressure medication.

To boost valsartan production, the company replaced tributyltin azide — the chemical normally used to create valsartan — with another chemical, sodium azide. That change, however, required them to use yet a third chemical, sodium nitrite. And unfortunately, when those two chemicals are combined, they can create toxic nitrosamine byproducts, such as NDMA.

Although nitrosamines such as NDMA are present in other items consumers often encounter, such as smoked and cured meats and malt beverages, the levels are not usually high enough to pose much of a risk. The level of NDMA found the in the contaminated valsartan tablets, however, exceeded strict limits set by the federal government.

According to the FDA, humans can safely consume 0.096 micrograms of NDMA per day. The recalled valsartan pills contained anywhere from 3 to 177 times the level deemed safe for human ingestion. Some testing revealed levels of up to 20 micrograms, which is more than 208 times the safe level of NDMA.

The recalls soon widened to include hundreds of batches of valsartan and other manufacturers, including the Indian company Hetero Labs. The drugs were sold and distributed by a number of different companies, including: Teva Pharmaceuticals (labeled as Major Pharmaceuticals); Prinston Pharmaceutical (labeled as Solco Healthcare); Teva Pharmaceuticals (labeled as Actavis); Camber Pharmaceuticals; Torrent Pharmaceuticals; and others.

The FDA has a complete list of valsartan recalls on its website. Eventually, batches of similar blood pressure medications, including losartan and irbesartan, were also recalled, and other cancer-causing impurities were identified. The massive recall also led to shortages of the critical medications.

Elizabeth Duffy, who lives in the Bronx, learned of the recall after reading about it on the internet, according to her class action complaint. She then called her local pharmacy, which instructed her to return the tainted pills for a new prescription.

John Duffy, of Nyack, New York, learned his valsartan had been recalled when he received a letter from Walgreens.

Both plaintiffs argue that the drug companies and pharmacies violated “express and implied” warranties by selling them tainted medication. They and others filing class action valsartan lawsuits are seeking compensation for the money they spent on the “worthless” drugs as well as damages for injuries sustained from consuming “acutely-toxic NDMA,” according to their complaint.

The plaintiffs in the valsartan personal injury lawsuits are seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The wrongful death suits filed by surviving family members are seeking compensation for their grief and anguish, loss of love and companionship, and funeral and burial expenses.

The lawsuits also call for punitive damages against Zhejiang Huahai and other defendants because of their alleged “reckless actions” and “utter disregard for human safety.”

You may be entitled to compensation if you took tainted valsartan and suffered an injury. Lawyers are accepting certain cases that involve cancers that can be linked to NDMA exposure. These include liver cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer.

You may also have a legal case if you developed a liver injury that required hospitalization.

For a feasible case, you must have been taking valsartan for at least a year before you were diagnosed with cancer or liver disease. You also must have been taking the drug for at least 30 days between 2014 and today.

Be sure to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Many states have specific statutes of limitations, which establish a limited timeframe during which you can take legal action.

It’s also important to save your prescription bottles and pills for evidence and testing if you believe you were injured by valsartan.