AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims for patients alleging they suffered serious drug complications like acute renal failure.

A recent Nexium lawsuit to join this litigation movement was filed by a woman from North Carolina alleging she developed acute renal failure due to ingesting the proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

Plaintiff Anya H. filed this Nexium lawsuit soon after discovering other patients had developed life threatening kidney complications like acute renal failure after being prescribed the proton pump inhibitor. According to the Nexium lawsuit, Anya had used Nexium for typical treatment purposes between September 2014 and September 2016.

During this time, Anya says she followed all label instructions and did not deviate from their intended use. However, Anya says she later developed acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease.

Overview of PPI Kidney Problems

Nexium and other proton pump inhibitors work by limiting the amount of digestive fluids secreted in the stomach, which helps treat problems like acid reflux.

Proton pump inhibitors are prescribed to treat a variety of ailments from GERD to stomach ulcers and are among the most popular medications in the United States. While it is estimated that over 15 million patients have been prescribed PPIs, the total number of users is likely much higher due to the availability of generic variants.

However, proton pump inhibitors have been recently linked to serious kidney complications like acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease. A recent study was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, which compared the side effects of proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2 receptor blockers.

According to the results of the study, patients who used PPI medications faced a 96 percent higher risk of renal failure and a 28 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disease, when compared with the histamine H2 receptor blocker group.

Another study indicating an increased risk of PPI kidney complications was published in February 2016 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which also indicated these medications also increase the chances for interstitial nephritis, which is a condition known to evolve into kidney failure.

It is important to note that the FDA had issued a label change to Nexium in 2014, to include acute interstitial nephritis as a potential side effect. Patients argue this means that AstraZeneca allegedly knew of this alleged correlation for years, but failed to disclose this information to the public.

At all times relevant, Anya says she relied on the product information and marketing statements provided by AstraZeneca. Anya states she would not have taken Nexium, if she had known she would face an increased risk of acute renal failure.

Anya’s Nexium lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2789, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging chronic kidney disease and acute renal failure. By joining an MDL, Anya’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Anya’s Nexium lawsuit is seeking multiple damages, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Acute Renal Failure Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-16120-CCC-MF, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.