GlaxoSmithKline is facing a new Zofran lawsuit from an Idaho couple who alleges that their child was born with birth defects after the woman was prescribed the anti nausea drug for morning sickness during pregnancy.

The Zofran lawsuit is joining a multidistrict litigation (MDL) against GlaxoSmithKline, where a number of other Zofran lawsuits allege similar injuries and negligence claims against the company. Plaintiff couple Megan and Jared F. are suing GlaxoSmithKline on behalf of their child, J.F., who was born with multiple birth defects.

Born on April 24, 2014, J.F. was immediately diagnosed with congenital cardiac defects including: ventricular septal defects (VSD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO). The child had to be hospitalized for two days after his birth for this condition. The parents are still contending with the child’s health problems.

According to the Zofran lawsuit, Megan had been prescribed the anti nausea medication during the first trimester of her pregnancy to combat morning sickness. It is important to note that before his exposure to Zofran in the womb, J.F. had not family history of these birth defects with no indications of the conditions before his birth.

Megan and Jared insist that it was the direct exposure to Zofran that resulted in the birth defects their child is currently suffering from, and they state that Megan never would have agreed to take Zofran if she had known the risks.

GlaxoSmithKline had allegedly promoted Zofran as a safe and effective way to treat morning sickness, despite never being officially approved to do so.

Zofran was approved by the FDA in 1991 to be a nausea treatment drug for patients undergoing chemotherapy and works by inhibiting the signals for nausea and vomiting from the throat and brain.

Overview of Zofran Birth Defects

Soon after its release, GlaxoSmithKline noted that there were a number of off label prescriptions given to pregnant women who were suffering from morning sickness. This had reportedly spurred the company into heavily marketing Zofran to pregnant women, which had resulted in the numerous birth defects claims GlaxoSmithLine is currently facing.

However, critics state that the company deliberately omitted the risk of birth defects from Zofran’s warning label, and that GlaxoSmithKline did no pre clinical testing on pregnant women in order to gain the FDA’s approval.

Numerous women and their families allege that the aggressive Zofran marketing campaign had caused them to unintentionally expose their children to a dangerous substance, which resulted in congenital birth defects.

Zofran birth defects had reportedly ranged in severity from a cleft palate to congenital heart defects that could be potentially fatal.

Megan and Jared are seeking compensation from GlaxoSmithKline for their child’s medical expenses, along with any other punitive damages. Previously pregnant women who were prescribed Zofran and had their children born with birth defects, may be eligible to file their own Zofran lawsuit.

The Zofran Lawsuit is filed In Re: Zofran (Ondansetron) Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 1:15-md-2657, in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.