Huahai US Inc. and several other companies are facing a new valsartan class action lawsuit which alleges the contamination of blood pressure medications rendered them useless and put patients at risk for dangerous medical conditions.

The valsartan class action lawsuit was filed by a man from New York who alleges he paid for at least one defective medication.

Plaintiff Alphonse B. filed this valsartan class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and other patients who allegedly took the medication that was contaminated with (N-nitrosodimethylamine) NDMA.

This substance is classified as a “probable human carcinogen” by federal health authorities, and reportedly contaminated valsartan medication stocks in a Huahai manufacturing plant in China.

By the time the contamination was discovered, these contaminated stocks may have already been prescribed to patients for high blood pressure and hypertension. According to the valsartan class action lawsuit, Alphonse purchased generic valsartan on multiple occasions between Aug. 22, 2017 and May 14, 2018.

These valsartan medications were distributed and manufactured by Solco Healthcare, which had reportedly received contaminated medications from Huahai.

Overview of Valsartan NDMA Contamination

Valsartan is a generic high blood pressure medication that is an angiotensin II receptor agonist. It works by reducing constriction in the blood vessels to help increase circulation efficiency.

Valsartan is the generic version of Diovan, and is very popular for its cheaper price. However, the recently NDMA contamination discovery has left the medical community concerned and numerous patients without a reliable blood pressure treatment medication.

The alleged NDMA contamination was first announced in May 2018, when the European Medicines Agency announced that certain valsartan stocks sourced from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals had somehow come into contact with the substance during the manufacturing process.

European health officials quickly began recalling valsartan and urged pharmacists to pull valsartan and valsartan HCTZ from shelves.

The FDA took similar action and announced the valsartan recall in July 2018, requesting that three generic valsartan manufacturers to voluntarily recall potentially contaminated products from the market.

Pharmacists were also asked to purge affected valsartan stocks from their inventories and return them to the manufacturers. According to the FDA, the recall affected valsartan products distributed as early as October 2015 but that potential contamination could have affected stocks dating back to 2012.

It is important to note that note all valsartan medications are affected by the recall, and patients should check to see which pharmaceutical company manufactured their medications.

However, Alphonse and other patients claim they took potentially contaminated valsartan medications and claim they were deprived of the vital treatment process the drugs provide. Alphonse alleges that the NDMA contamination significantly increased the likelihood of cancer for him and other class members and rendered the medications worthless.

At all times relevant, Alphonse says he and the proposed Class Members relied on the pharmaceutical companies’ statements and reassurances that their valsartan stocks were just as good as brand name Diovan.

Alphonse is seeking compensation for all financial expenses related to the contaminated medications, along with other damages.

This Valsartan Class Action lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-01150, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District Court of New York.