The Lipitor Lawsuit: Fighting for Your Right to Compensation
Lipitor® is a medication that controls cholesterol levels, and it is taken by millions of patients world-wide. Unfortunately, serious side effects have been linked to Lipitor use, including an increased risk of diabetes. Eligible patients who developed diabetes while taking Lipitor can join a class action lawsuit to receive compensation. Attorney Chris Olsen, based in San Diego, CA, can review your case and advise you on participating in the Lipitor lawsuit.
Lipitor Applications
Lipitor is a statin, or calcium salt tablet, which is commonly used to lower cholesterol. Statins work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme produced by the liver that creates cholesterol. Lipitor is designed to primarily lower LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. High levels of both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are connected to an increased risk of heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes. Lipitor is made by Pfizer and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for use as a cholesterol medication to help prevent cardiovascular disease.
The Connection between Lipitor & Diabetes
Since it was made available to the public, Lipitor has been linked to negative side effects, most notably, the onset of type-2 diabetes. Studies by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, The BMJ, and other publications have confirmed this link.
Pfizer has a history of settling multimillion-dollar lawsuits, which suggests a similar pattern of settlement amounts is possible for Lipitor victims.
The Women's Health Initiative also found in 2012 that post-menopausal women who regularly took Lipitor had a substantially higher chance of developing diabetes, as opposed to men of the same age. As a result, the FDA has required the drug maker to update Lipitor labels to warn users about the risk of developing diabetes.
Lipitor Multidistrict Litigation
Soon after the FDA required updated labelling in 2012, patients began filing lawsuits against Pfizer alleging that the drug manufacturer knew about the serious diabetes-causing side effect but failed to warn the public. As the number of Lipitor lawsuits increased, they were consolidated into a single federal courtroom in Charleston, South Carolina. The Lipitor MDL (multidistrict litigation) consists of about 2,000 lawsuits. The cases are now on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Pfizer, the maker of Lipitor, has a history of settling multimillion-dollar lawsuits, which suggests a similar pattern of settlement amounts is possible for Lipitor victims.
How a Lawsuit Can Help Victims
Individuals who suffered adverse side effects from a medication face financial hardships related to medical bills, time off from work, and pain and suffering. A lawsuit can allow you to be compensated for all of these losses, both past and future. Going after drug manufacturers who did not adequately educate the public on the dangers of their products also holds them accountable, helping to deter such a crime from happening again and putting others in harm’s way.
Get the Legal Representation You Deserve
Attorney Chris Olsen is dedicated to fighting for injured victims who have taken Lipitor and their families. Contact his office online today, or call (619) 550-9352 to learn more.
