Ashley Milano  |  November 25, 2015

Category: Legal News

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Stomach and intestine male anatomy anterior x-ray viewA Benicar lawsuit was filed in a New Jersey federal court against drug manufacturers Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceuticals and Forest Laboratories LLC, alleging the that the companies continue to put consumers at risk by not adequately warning of the dangers associated with using their drug.

It also alleges the defendants failed to adequately test their product before introducing it to the public.

Plaintiff Edward M., a Louisiana resident, claims in the Benicar Lawsuit that he was injured as a result of his use of Benicar, a medication prescribed to treat his high blood pressure.

According to Edward, Benicar side effects caused him to suffer from serious gastrointestinal injuries, including chronic diarrhea, vomiting, as well as abdominal pain, packed bowels, kidney problems, severe weight loss and sprue-like enteropathy.

All of the side effects and the resulting damage and trauma allegedly sustained by the plaintiff required hospitalization and blood transfusions.  Edward is under continual medical monitoring.

Benicar Overview

Benicar was developed in 1995 for the treatment of hypertension or high blood pressure and was approved for use by the FDA in 2002. Benicar is designed to block angiotension II, allowing a patient’s blood vessels to expand. This can reduce blood pressure.

From 2002 to 2008, pharmaceutical maker Daiichi Sankyo spent nearly $1 billion promoting the product and making claims that their drug was safe and more effective than other hypertensive drugs on the market. Yet the use of this drug has now been linked to severe intestinal problems, chronic diarrhea, and a severe condition known as sprue-like enteropathy.

What is Sprue-like Enteropathy?

The most serious gastrointestinal complication experienced by patients taking Benicar is sprue-like enteropathy. This severe GI disorder can cause serious symptoms, such as severe, chronic diarrhea, substantial weight loss, and malnutrition. To make matters worse, this condition may take years to develop and be diagnosed and is often mistaken for Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. By the time sprue-like enteropathy is diagnosed, patients are sick, malnourished, and often hospitalized.

Link Between Benicar & Sprue-like Enteropathy

In 2012, researchers from the Mayo Clinic uncovered the link between Benicar and sprue-like enteropathy. They found that over a 3-year period, at least 22 patients taking Benicar were admitted with celiac disease symptoms-yet further testing did not support this diagnosis. When those patients were removed from their Benicar, however, the symptoms ceased.

Those patients who reported suffering from Celiac-like symptoms had diarrhea for up to 53 months and had lost between 5 and 110 pounds from GI complications. They had also experienced rounds of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Months later, scientists at the American College of Gastroenterology found that the active ingredient in Benicar, olmesartan, was also linked to sprue-like enteropathy and debilitating GI symptoms in over 40 patients. In 2013, the FDA required Daiichi Sankyo to update their labels to reflect these findings and warned the public of Benicar’s dangers.

Benicar Multidistrict Litigation

Benicar lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in New Jersey federal court before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler. All of the lawsuits included in the Benicar MDL are based on allegations that the defendants, Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories, were aware of serious gastrointestinal side effects of olmesartan like sprue-like enteropathy, but knowingly concealed this information, placing profits before consumer safety.

The Benicar MDL is In Re: Benicar (Olmesartan) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2606, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Benicar class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Benicar lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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