Defective Drugs and Side Effects
Mass Torts
Andrus Boudreaux, PLC, is a nationally recognized leader in mass tort litigation. The firm represents clients in numerous litigations including Fen-Phen, Medtronic, Guidant, Propulsid, Ortho Evra, Bextra/Celebrex, PPA, Sulzer Hip Implant Litigation, and Avandia. The collective experience of our firm works to our clients’ benefit. Andrus Boudreaux’s Senior Partner, Vance R. Andrus, has served as chair and a member of the Plaintiff's Steering Committee ("PSC") of the Louisiana Breast Implant Class Action, as well as a member of the PSC in the ICON class action litigation. Most recently, he serves as a member of the Plaintiff's Executive Committee of the PSC in Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) 1789, the Fosamax Products Liability Litigation. He also serves as a member of the Vioxx Stroke Committee of MDL 1657.
In addition to national service and leadership in mass tort actions, Mr. Andrus has served as chair and taught at numerous conferences including those sponsored by, LexisNexis/Mealey's, Mass Torts Made Perfect, HarrisMartin, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice and Seminar Web Live!. Mr. Andrus is scheduled to chair the first national Avandia Conference in Chicago in July 2007.
The Chief of Operations for the mass tort division of Andrus Boudreaux, Rich Hood, is actively engaged in the Fosamax, Gadolinium, Avandia, and Ortho Evra litigations. In Ortho Evra, Rich works with the efficacy committee of the PSC in MDL 1742. Additionally, he has spoken on Fosamax at the HarrisMartin National Emerging Drugs Conference in Miami Florida.
While our attorneys develop the legal argument and investigate the bad acts of the defendants, the paraprofessional staff at Andrus Boudreaux works on the equally important tasks of managing client relations. Our paralegals have extensive experience in developing professional relationships with clients. Our staff respects the individuality of each client’s cases. Therefore, they work hard to create and maintain trust so that clients feel comfortable sharing all of the delicate details of their injuries and circumstances.
Dangerous Drugs
Before a newly developed drug can be sold commercially, it must first endure an exhaustive clinical trial process through which it is tested for safety, toxicity, side effects and efficacy. The final phase of any drug clinical trial revolves around Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, clearing it for distribution.
FDA approval does not void a drug manufacturer's liability for defects or severe side effects that are caused as a result of using their drugs. Drug manufacturers are required to take comprehensive measures to ensure that their products are safe. Failure to disclose any side effects, defects, or other such complications associated with their drugs is negligent and grounds for legal action. The purpose of the clinical trial process is to test the drug across a wide variety of populations so as to monitor sporadic issues affecting specific groups (gender, age, race, etc.)
Although the final phase of any drug clinical trial revolves around long-term studies designed to monitor the effects of continued use of the drug, latent effects can present themselves after FDA approval of the drug and after it has been widely distributed and used.
The following list of FDA approved drugs has recently garnered a great deal of attention resulting from harmful defects and side effects that have been affecting significant numbers of people.
COX-2 Inhibitors: a new class of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX-2), a naturally occurring enzyme that plays an integral role in inflammation. COX-2 inhibitors function without getting in the way of COX-1, a naturally occurring enzyme that plays an integral role in the protection of the stomach. The primary reason that COX-2 inhibitors were developed was to provide people with an anti-inflammatory drug that would not cause harm to the stomach; however, recent studies have indicated that COX-2 inhibitors are just as harmful to the stomach as older anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin.
Ortho Evra: a type of birth control skin patch, Ortho Evra is a weekly hormonal contraceptive that is worn on the skin to prevent pregnancy. The Ortho Evra patch releases estrogen and a type of synthetic hormone called progestin into the bloodstream. The drug-induced hormonal release thickens cervical mucous, preventing sperm from penetrating into the uterus and fertilizing eggs. Ortho Evra patches introduce more estrogen into the body than standard birth control pills. This has been linked with a variety of complications, notably the formation of blood clots in the legs and lungs. The risk factor is increased in women who smoke or have a family history of blood disorders.
If a drug manufacturer learns of a potential serious side effect caused by its drug, it has a responsibility to notify the physicians who prescribe the drugs in order to protect the safety of the patients. If a drug manufacturer does not provide the proper notifications and patients are harmed by its drug, the harmed patients may be entitled to compensation. The lawyers of Andrus Boudreaux are experts in handling cases of negligence by large drug companies. They have successfully represented and obtained substantial compensation for a number of patients who have been harmed by drugs. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective drug, contact us at 303-376-6360 for a case evaluation.