A valsartan cancer scare has already spurred legal action alleging contaminated medications put patients at an increased risk for cancer.

The valsartan cancer scare became public knowledge when the FDA warned that certain stocks of the blood pressure medication were contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at some point during the manufacturing process.

The valsartan recall was announced in July 2018, with the FDA stating that certain stocks of generic valsartan were voluntarily recalled from the market by three generic manufacturers. Pharmacists have also been asked to take affected medications out of their inventories and return them to their respective manufacturers.

While not all valsartan medication stocks have been affected by the NDMA contamination, the valsartan cancer scare has already spurred legal action from consumers.

Plaintiff Talsie N. is filing legal action on behalf of herself and other similarly situated consumers, who reportedly purchased contaminated valsartan medications and had unknowingly put themselves at an increased risk for cancer.

NDMA is an oily material that has been classified as a carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is often a byproduct of a manufacturing process. People who are exposed to NDMA are at an increased risk for developing cancer, with the contamination allegedly making the affected valsartan medication stocks unsuitable for their intended purpose.

Overview of Valsartan Class Action Lawsuit

According to the valsartan class action lawsuit, Talsie and proposed Class Members bought these medications on multiple occasions, ultimately wasted their money and putting themselves at a higher risk for cancer. From Jan. 8, 2017 through May 9, 2018, Talsie reportedly bought generic valsartan at no more than $1.25 per refill.

Valsartan is generic Diovan, which is considerably cheaper than the name brand medication. Valsartan is part of a group of hypertension treatment drugs known as angiotensin II receptor agonists, which work by reducing blood flow constriction.

This allows for easier circulation which makes valasrtan a good treatment choice for hypertension and high blood pressure. However, the valsartan cancer scare has caused many patients to talk to their doctors about alternative treatment choices.

While not all valsartan stocks are affected by the NDMA contamination, the stocks sourced from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd have been allegedly been contaminated since 2012.

According to the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, a Zhejiang Huahai manufacturing plant in China had made changes to their manufacturing process. This change may have caused the NDMA contamination in the valsartan stocks, which have been on the market for at least five years.

The European Medicines Agency announced the widespread NDMA contamination in May 2018 after investigators discovered an irregularity in the manufacturing process. European health officials began recalling affected valsartan medications from the market, and had asked pharmacies to purge valsartan and valsartan HCTZ from their inventories.

In an effort to protect patients from the risk of valsartan cancer, national regulators across Europe began recalling medications that contain potentially tainted valsartan. Health authorities in the U.K. did the same, urging pharmacies to pull valsartan and valsartan HCTZ from their shelves.

Even though the valsartan cancer scare is now widespread news, Talsie says she and Class Members were unaware of this information until the 2018 FDA announcement. The valsartan class action lawsuit is seeking multiple damages including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Valsartan Class Action Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-16071, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.