AVA Law Group is currently examining cases on behalf of individuals who developed cancer after taking the popular blood pressure drug valsartan. In late 2018, the FDA recalled strains of valsartan after finding high levels of a known human carcinogen in the generic medication. Health officials revealed strains of valsartan and valsartan HCTZ may have been contaminated during the manufacturing process by probable human carcinogen NDMA. Reports indicate that the medication may have been contaminated with NDMA for several years, putting thousands of individuals at risk of developing cancer. Individuals may be at risk of severe side effects from NDMA in valsartan, including developing cancer including liver cancer, kidney cancer, and lung cancer.
If you or a loved one took valsartan and then were diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Contact AVA Law Group today to learn more about your legal rights and fill out a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation. Through filing a claim against the drug’s manufacturers, you may be entitled to a cash award to help you recover from the side effects of NDMA in valsartan.
Valsartan, the generic version of name-brand medication Diovan, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure in patients. Some use the medication to help improve chances of living longer after enduring a heart attack.
Valsartan belongs to the drug class known as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and works as a hypertension prescription by relaxing blood vessels to ease patients’ blood flow. Valsartan HCTZ is a combination of valsartan and hydrochlorothizide, a “water pill” or diuretic that causes patients to create more urine and get rid of extra salt and water from the body.
In July 2018 the FDA recalled strains of valsartan and valsartan HCTZ after discovering deadly drug impurities in the medication. According to claims, valsartan generic manufacturers, primarily China-based Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals, synthesized batches of the generic medication using a new manufacturing process. Officials indicate that the manufacturing process resulted in exposing valsartan to known human carcinogens.
Allegedly, the manufacturing process meant to increase product yield. However, the new process gave up the quality and safeness of the drug for the quantity they could produce. MORE THAN 60 MILLION AMERICAN PATIENTS COULD BE IMPACTED BY IMPURE VALSARTAN PILLS.
FDA investigators uncovered dangerously high levels of known human carcinogens in specific strains of valsartan. These carcinogens, N-nitrodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), appear to be an impurity directly related to the manufacturing process.
NDMA and NDEA have been tied to an increased risk of developing several strains of cancer, including liver, bladder, and kidney cancer. The FDA related that the levels of NDMA present in specific strains of valsartan exceed the maximum “safe” daily limit of NDMA as dictated by the EPA. Though the FDA reported their findings of valsartan impurities July 13, 2018, evidence suggests that impure batches of valsartan have been distributed for four years at least, dating back to 2014.
Reports traced impure batches to as early as 2014 and linked them to the list of pharmaceutical companies below.
The FDA recommends users to continue taking valsartan until they have a replacement and encourages users to contact their health care professional immediately if their strain of the drug is included in the recall.
Although Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals and other generic manufactures have stopped distributing valsartan with the deadly active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), millions of people are at risk for their grave mistake.
Thousands of valsartan patients across the country are filing lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturers for the cost of, essentially, useless and harmful medication. The valsartan recall caused a drug shortage and an increase in competitors’ prices. In fact, the price of 160mg and 80mg tablets of generic valsartan more than doubled in September 2018.
Individuals filing valsartan lawsuits across the U.S. are not only seeking damages for the cost of recalled drugs, but for medical monitoring for serious health conditions they will need to closely watch for the rest of their lives. Some lawsuits against generic valsartan manufacturers allege that the prescription companies knew for years that their new manufacturing process could result in deadly chemical byproducts and knowingly did nothing and failed to warn the public of the health risks.
Innocent dependents on necessary medication should NOT be forced to suffer due to someone’s sacrifice of quality for quantity. AVA Law Group is dedicated to helping you and loved ones seek legal compensation for health problems, cost of recalled drugs, and medical monitoring caused by the contaminated pills.
Our representatives desire to connect you with the legal expertise you deserve so you can focus on healing. Contact us today to begin your free, no obligation case review. Our representatives are professionals in the field and ensure your information is handled with care, confidentiality, ad precision. When you partner with AVA Law Group, you are connected with the some of the best injury attorneys in the country, attorneys with proven track records of success for clients.
To start your journey towards healing and recovery, call AVA Law Group today at 1.866.428.2529. We are available 24/7 and ensure you always talk with a live representative, not machines or automated recordings.
