A man has filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca in New Jersey federal court alleging he suffered Nexium chronic kidney disease.

Plaintiff Joshua S. states that he used Nexium 24HR to treat his peptic disorder. The lawsuit states that he is seeking compensatory damages after he was “caused to suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as other severe and personal injuries which are permanent and lasting in nature, physical pain and mental anguish, including diminished enjoyment of life, as well as the need for lifelong medical treatment, monitoring and/or medications, and fear of developing any of additional health consequences.”

According to the Nexium lawsuit, Joshua states that the makers of Nexium stated that its product had been properly tested and was safe and effective, yet they “concealed their knowledge of Nexium 24HR’s defects, specifically the fact that it causes serious kidney injuries, from Plaintiff’s treating physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, the FDA, the public in general and/or the medical community.”

AstraZeneca began selling Nexium in 2001 in order to treat peptic disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, and gastropathy caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nexium 24HR was sold beginning in 2014. Both Nexium products are considered a proton pump inhibitor drug.

The Nexium lawsuit states that case reports of adverse effects, clinical studies and post-market surveillance indicated that kidney injuries were possible for patients who have taken Nexium, and these reports were for Nexium were available as early as 2001, and Nexium 24HR as early as 2014.

The lawsuit states that a number of observational studies have indicated that proton pump inhibitor use can lead to serious adverse health consequences including acute kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis, which allegedly left patients with Nexium chronic kidney disease.

After several years of prodding, the FDA eventually required a labeling change for PPI meds dispensed by prescription, noting that acute interstitial nephritis is a potential outcome for patients taking proton pump inhibitor drugs and that patients should discontinue the drugs if interstitial nephritis develops.

A study published in February 2016 stated that proton pump inhibitor use was independently associated with a 20% to 50% higher likelihood of having a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease after adjusting for other variables.

Nexium chronic kidney disease can be fatal because it can lead to end-stage kidney failure. Additionally, chronic kidney disease is linked with a greatly increased risk of death and cardiovascular events.

As a result of his injuries, Joshua has raised a number of allegations against the makers of Nexium including negligence, strict products liability, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, product liability for design defect, manufacturing defect and failure to warn and punitive damages.

The plaintiff is seeking compensation including compensatory damages, punitive and/or exemplary damages, attorneys’ fees and costs and any additional relief as deemed just and proper by the court.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Nexium Chronic Kidney Disease?

If you have been diagnosed with Nexium chronic kidney disease, you may be eligible to take legal action against the manufacturer to receive compensation for your injuries. An experienced attorney can provide you with a free case consultation to discuss your unique situation and can help you determine if taking further legal action is right for you.