Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are among the best-selling drugs of all-time. This class of drugs that treat gastroesophageal reflux disease includes common household names such as:
- Prilosec
- Nexium
- Prevacid
This is a multi-billion-dollar market which is quite lucrative for the makers of these household names. Patients prescribed these drugs take them daily and continuously refill their subscriptions. However, it is the daily exposure to these substances that is alleged to cause serious health problems for patients.
PPIs Have Been Connected to Severe Kidney Damage
Specifically, these lawsuits allege that PPI medications can cause severe kidney damage. Many patients who have already filed lawsuits claim that they have developed end-stage renal disease that required transplants to save their lives. Some lawsuits are wrongful death actions because the patients died before they were able to receive a new kidney.
One study found that rates of acute kidney injury were ten times as high in patients taking PPIs. The same research showed that patients who took PPIs suffered from chronic kidney disease at four times the rate of those who did not take these drugs.
There Are Nearly 14,000 Lawsuits Outstanding in an MDL
The lawsuits claim that the companies that make these drugs knew of the risks but failed to warn patients. Because these drugs are so widely-taken, the PPI lawsuit has grown to be one of the largest mass tort cases in the United States. As of this writing, PPI lawsuits were the third-largest multidistrict litigation case in the entire country, with nearly 14,000 lawsuits pending.
2021 promises to be a big year for the PPI mass tort litigation. The cases, located in the District of New Jersey, are scheduled to begin going to trial later this year. The judge has selected bellwether cases and has scheduled them for trial in November 2021. Additional trials will then be scheduled for 2022, assuming that the defendants do not settle the cases first.
It is vital that you take action to file your PPI lawsuit immediately because the statute of limitations places a cap on the amount of time that you have to file a lawsuit. This is why you need to contact a lawyer immediately if you took one of the drugs mentioned above and suffer from kidney damage.
Damages in a PPI Lawsuit
If your case is successful, you may be able to receive the following damages:
- Cost of medical treatment (which may be considerable with kidney damage)
- Wrongful death damages
- Pain and suffering for both past and future
- Lost wages for both past and future
- Emotional distress
Contact a Florida Products Liability Lawyer Today
This is a case that many in the legal and pharmaceutical communities will be watching closely given how widely taken these medications are. If you believe that you have a claim, you need to act fast.
Contact the Florida product liability attorneys at Ged Lawyers, LLP online or call us at (561) 995-1966 to schedule your free initial consultation. We are ready to fight for your legal rights as you seek to obtain financial compensation.
