An Alaska patient claims that Nexium and kidney failure are linked, joining a growing multi-district litigation against the drug’s makers, AstraZeneca and Pfizer Inc.

In their Nexium and kidney failure lawsuit, plaintiffs Richard and Myrna D. claim that Richard took the heartburn medication Nexium and Nexium 24 hour from 2011 to 2015. Allegedly, Myrna and Richard lived in Soldotna, Alaska when he used Nexium which was where he was prescribed the medication. He claims that he developed kidney problems including chronic kidney disease.

The couple says that Richard’s kidney disease progressed into renal failure, which resulted in him having to be on dialysis. The couple claims that Richard’s kidney problems were a direct result of his use of Nexium and Nexium 24 hour.

Richard and Myrna aim to hold the makers of the drug, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and Pfizer Inc. responsible for the damage allegedly caused by Nexium.

They claim that in addition to Richard’s physical injury, the couple suffered financial injury because of the costs related to Richard’s medical costs and loss of income. The couple also claims that they suffered loss of consortium because their relationship was harmed because of Richard’s injury.

According to their Nexium and kidney failure lawsuit, Richard and Myrna argue that Pfizer and AstraZeneca knew or should have known that Nexium could cause kidney damage, and did not sufficiently warn patients and medical professionals of the danger of using the drug.

Allegedly, the drug’s makers represented Nexium and Nexium 24 hour as safe and effective in the interest of increasing the profit they gained from the sale of the drug, and intentionally misrepresented the drug to do so.

Richard and Myrna’s Nexium and kidney failure lawsuit joins a growing multidistrict litigation against makers of a range of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of heartburn medications. Patients like Richard claim that drugs made by companies like AstraZeneca and Pfizer can cause serious kidney damage including kidney failure.

Drugs included in the multidistrict litigation are Dexilant, Nexium, Nexium 24HR, Prevacid, Prevacid 24HR, Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Protonix and other drugs, all of which are proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors treat conditions like heartburn and acid reflux, and work by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the lining of the stomach.

The Nexium and kidney failure MDL notes that PPI drugs are “one of the most commercially successful groups of medication in the history of pharmaceutical sales in the United States.” However, research produced as early as the 1990s allegedly connects PPIs like Nexium and kidney damage symptoms.

Patients like Richard argue that the drugs are largely marketed as safe and effective for long-term use, but the scientific research of the drugs does not suggest that such use is safe, because long term use of PPIs allegedly worsens a patient’s likelihood of developing kidney problems.

Patients argue that the makers of the drugs intentionally marketed them as safe for long-term use in the interest of selling more PPIs, despite the dangers associated with long-term use.

The Nexium and Kidney Failure Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-17022-CCC-MF, in the U.S. District Court for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.