Effexor Birth Defect Lawsuits Consolidated in MDL

Judge Rufe is already overseeing birth defect lawsuits regarding the popular depression medication Zoloft and its effect on neonatal development. Since both Zoloft and Effexor are sold and marketed by Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiaries, the birth defect lawsuits should involve common questions of fact, notes the JPML. The panel added that the transfers would also limit repetition of certain pretrial proceedings including discovery and expert depositions.

One of the first lawsuits to join the Effexor MDL was filed by plaintiff Alesia Burridge. Her Effexor lawsuit alleges that the pharmaceutical firm should have known of the risks associated with the medication and updated the drug safety information or warned prescribing physicians of the risk of birth defects. Burridge’s child was born on July 3, 2011 with “significant congenital anomalies, including cleft palate, as well as other conditions,” according to her Effexor lawsuit.

While specific studies are not mentioned, the birth defect lawsuit alleges that Wyeth and Pfizer, which bought Wyeth in 2000, should have observed clinical data or outside studies that led other companies to update the drug safety information of similar drugs like Paxil back in 2005. Counts in Burridge’s Effexor lawsuit are similar to those for women who took Zoloft while bringing a child to term.

The Effexor birth defect lawsuit includes counts of failure to warn about the risk of SSRI birth defects, defective and negligent design, fraud and negligence, as well as loss of consortium due to the alleged decrease in quality of life for the Burridge’s child.

The Effexor lawsuit is Alesia Burridge et al v. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al., Case No. 13-cv-01778, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

If you or someone you know was taking an antidepressant during pregnancy and had a child with birth defects, you may able to file a complaint against the drug maker. Learn more and get a free consultation with an Effexor birth defects lawsuit attorney when you fill out the short form at the Zoloft & SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. You may be eligible to pursue damages to offset lost wages and medical bills from caring for your child, but you need to determine your eligibility first, so get a no-cost legal review today.