Recently, a Mississippi resident filed a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company, Aurobindo Pharma, because he developed colon cancer after using their product intended to treat his high blood pressure. Unfortunately, this claimant is just one of many who have fallen victim to the dangerous side effects of using Valsartan. In fact, many consumers taking Valsartan have been found to develop numerous forms of cancer—due to the high levels of carcinogens that have been found in the drug.
In July of 2018, The FDA recalled the products containing Valsartan in July of 2018, once it was found that the company failed to disclose the presence of the toxic chemicals N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in the drug. This action by the FDA is the largest recall of a class 1 drug, and included roughly 90 different drugs. In addition to Aurobindo Pharma, other big companies that are facing similar lawsuits include Teva Pharmaceuticals and Solco Healthcare.
Why Valsartan is Being Recalled
Valsartan is a generic prescription medication that many drug companies produce to help treat congestive heart failure and high blood pressure in hopes of preventing kidney problems, as well as strokes. When it was originally approved by the FDA in 1996, some common, low-risk side effects included headaches, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. However, the real problems with contaminated Valsartan did not occur until years later.
These severe problems with Valsartan drugs was first discovered when a Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals (ZHP), was found to have been producing contaminated Valsartan that contained large amounts of the carcinogens NDMA and NDEA. This company then supplied this impure medication component to other drug companies who were producing and selling the generic Valsartan drug.
NDMA specifically has been linked to the formation of colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer because of its high absorption properties by the upper digestive organs.
Seek Legal Help for Unwarranted Side Effects
If you or a loved one has been taking a generic Valsartan drug, please contact Whitely law firm immediately for a consultation on your case. We hope to use our seasoned professionals to build a case and help you get the compensation you deserve. Feel free to reach out today.
