AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals is facing serious negligence allegations from patients who claim the company failed to warn them against the alleged link between Nexium and kidney disease.

One of the most recent claims alleging a Nexium and kidney disease correlation was filed by a woman from North Carolina, alleging the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) had caused her Nexium kidney damage.

Plaintiff Shirley M. says she used Nexium for typical treatment purposes between 2010 to 2018 and had no reason to believe she was at risk for any serious drug side effects until after her diagnosis.

According to her Nexium lawsuit, Shirley developed acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease due to the effects of the proton pump inhibitor drug.

Shirley opted to file legal action against AstraZeneca after discovering other patients had developed similar Nexium kidney damage and were not warned against the alleged correlation until it was too late.

Overview of Nexium and Kidney Disease Correlation

Proton pump inhibitors work by limiting the volume of digestive fluids secreted in the stomach, which reduces the effects of acid reflux and heartburn. This treatment mechanism makes PPIs an effective remedy for stomach ulcers and other similar conditions caused by excess stomach acid, which greatly improves the quality of life for patients.

Proton pump inhibitors are among some of the most prescribed medications in the United States, with over 15 million users of prescription versions. The total number is likely much higher due to the availability of over the counter variants.

The medical community has recently become wary of PPIs after several recent studies found that these medications may significantly increase the risk of kidney damage.

One of these studies was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, which found that PPI patients faced a 96 percent increased risk of kidney failure and 28 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disease, compared to patients prescribed histamine H2 receptor blockers.

Another study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in February 2016, which showed an increased risk of kidney failure in conjunction with PPIs.

Even though these complications can be potentially fatal to patients, plaintiffs like Shirley allege AstraZeneca allegedly failed to warn patients against the potential correlation between Nexium and kidney disease.

It is important to note that the FDA ordered AstraZeneca to update their PPI’s warning label to include acute interstitial nephritis in 2014. Patients argue this means the drug company allegedly knew that Nexium could increase the risk of kidney damage for years, but still failed to disclose this information to patients.

Shirley states she would not have agreed to use the PPI if she had known about the alleged link between Nexium and kidney disease. Her Nexium lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2789, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging Nexium kidney damage. Shirley is seeking multiple damages for negligence and failure to warn, stating she had relied on the product information provided by the company.

This Nexium and Kidney Disease lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-12949-CCC-MF, in the United States District Court of the District of New Jersey, Newark Division.