A growing number of patients are coming forward with reports of major side effects after using the relatively new multiple sclerosis medication Zinbryta. In response, the manufacturers issued a voluntary recall.

Now, some patients may pursue litigation, alleging they suffered from serious complications, and may have needed to undergo encephalitis treatment. If you or someone you love has suffered from side effects of Zinbryta like encephalitis, Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), liver failure or another injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit and seek compensation.

Basics of Zinbyrta

Zinbryta (also known by its generic name, daclizumab) is a multiple sclerosis medication manufactured by Biogen and AbbVie, and was granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 27, 2016.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a brain disease that involves the immune system attacking and damaging the myelin coating that surrounds and protects the central nervous system. This disrupts nerve signals to the brain, which causes a number of severe problems.

The medication Zinbryta is used to treat relapsing MS, working to counteract the effects of the disease by binding to immune cells, reducing the cell activity of the attacking cells.

Side Effects of Zinbryta

Unfortunately, a number of serious side effects of Zinbryta have been associated with the medication, and patients may not have been given adequate warning about some significant side effects of Zinbryta.

One of the most significant side effects associated with this drug is Zinbryta encephalitis, or brain inflammation. While meningitis involves inflammation of the membranes covering the brain, encephalitis is inflammation of the brain tissue itself. In many cases, encephalitis is caused by bacterial or viral infection, and in others, by some kind of immune system disorder.

Symptoms of Zinbryta encephalitis can be similar to those of the flu, including muscle pain, fatigue, fever, nausea or vomiting, irritability, light sensitivity, headache, seizures and more. These symptoms often last for two to three weeks, but can in some cases persist and grow steadily worse.

Encephalitis treatment can include bed rest, fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs, or antiviral medications. In the worst cases, patients may require hospitalization and therapy for further encephalitis treatment.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has investigated 12 reports of major Zinbryta encephalitis. Three of the cases involved in the investigations eventually proved fatal.

Other major Zinbryta side effects include:

• Other immune reactions
• Liver failure and injury
• Stevens Johnson syndrome

After receiving reports from patients over side effects of Zinbryta, Biogren and Abbvie announced a voluntary recall on March 2, 2018, saying that they would be removing Zinbryta from the global market because of reports of side effects of Zinbryta. The FDA has been made aware of the complications linked with Zinbryta.

Filing a Zinbryta Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered from side effects of Zinbryta like encephalitis and has needed encephalitis treatment, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by side effects of Zinbryta, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses for encephalitis treatment as well as lost wages.