Valsartan Lawsuit
Filing a valsartan lawsuit may be an option for patients who developed cancer after taking medications included in recalls announced by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in July and August 2018.
Contact a Valsartan Cancer Lawyer Today
The nationwide law firm of Bernstein Liebhard LLP is offering free legal reviews to individuals who may be suffering from valsartan-related cancer. To contact a valsartan lawyer today, please call (888) 994-5118.
Why Was Valsartan Recalled?
The FDA announced the first valsartan recall in July 2018, amid concerns that certain versions of the drug could be tainted with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a potentially cancer-causing substance.
In addition to the United States, valsartan has been recalled in 22 other countries, including Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, Poland, Croatia, Lithuania, Greece, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bahrain and Malta.
NDMA is an organic compound that may be unintentionally produced via certain chemical reactions. The NDMA contamination behind the valsartan recall was linked to a Chinese manufacturer called Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals and is believed to have resulted from a change in the company’s manufacturing process.
Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals altered its manufacturing methods in 2012, suggesting that tainted valsartan has been on the market for as long as 4 years.
Valsartan Cancer Risk
NDMA has been found to increase the occurrence of cancer in animal studies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated NDMA as a probable human carcinogen based on that research.
Consuming up to 96 nanograms NDMA/day is considered reasonably safe for human ingestion. However, the amounts of NDMA found in the recalled batches of valsartan exceed acceptable levels. FDA scientists estimate that there would be 1 additional case of cancer if 8,000 people took the highest valsartan dose (320 mg) from the recalled batches daily for the entire 4 years that the tainted drugs were likely on the market.
What Should Patients Do?
It is important to note that not all valsartan-containing drugs are included in this recall, as it only affects medications containing valsartan manufactured by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals.
The FDA has published a complete list of recalled valsartan products, as well as a list of medications NOT INCLUDED in the recall. Patients should consult these lists to determine if their medication is affected. If you are still not certain whether or not your drug has been recalled, consult your pharmacist.
Patients taking a recalled valsartan medication should not stop using the drug, as the conditions being treated are serious. The FDA has urged these individuals to consult with their doctor as soon as possible to switch to an alternative treatment.
Learn More About Filing a Valsartan Lawsuit
Valsartan patients diagnosed with cancer since 2012 and their loved ones may be entitled to financial compensation for:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Consortium
- Wrongful Death
- Other Related Damages
To discuss filing a valsartan lawsuit with a member of our legal team, please contact our office as soon as possible by calling (888) 994-5118.
- FDA (2018) “FDA announces voluntary recall of several medicines containing valsartan following detection of an impurity” https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm613532.htm
- FDA (2018) “FDA updates on valsartan recalls” https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm613916.htm
- EPA (2014) “Technical Fact Sheet – N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA)” https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/ffrrofactsheet_contaminant_ndma_january2014_final.pdf
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