September 8, 2021 | Personal Injury
Valsartan is a popular drug prescribed for heart failure or hypertension (high blood pressure). It is classified as an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and blocks chemicals in the body that restrict blood vessels. Valsartan helps relax and keep blood vessels open, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In July 2018, the FDA announced a recall of numerous Valsartan products due to unsafe levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), an ingredient known to have links with cancer. Tens of thousands of people may have been affected by these unsafe drugs. Consequently, Valsartan lawsuits are on the rise.
The Valsartan recall was not limited to the United States. Over 20 health agencies in different countries recalled Valsartan in coordination with the U.S. If you have been diagnosed with cancer or liver problems after taking Valsartan, it is crucial you contact an Oklahoma City personal injury attorney to discuss your rights.
What is NDMA?
Consumers have filed Valsartan lawsuits due to NDMA contamination. NDMA is a probable cancer-causing substance, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is known to cause cancerous tumors in many species of animals, especially in the liver.
NDMA was used for many years during the production of rocket fuel. It also is produced as a byproduct of chemical reactions during industrial processes and wastewater treatment. NDMA is believed to have been present in Valsartan for at least four years, from 2015 to 2019. You can check if your batch was contaminated with NDMA on the FDA website.
What Kind of Health Problems Are Caused by Valsartan?
Valsartan has been linked to a much higher risk for many different kinds of cancer, including:
- Liver Cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Bowel Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Other Cancers
For instance, according to a European study, individuals taking Valsartan had an 81% higher risk of developing uterine cancer and a 46% higher risk of colorectal cancer than the general public. The study suggested that Valsartan users had a 9% increase in the incidence of cancer generally.
Valsartan is also believed to put users at a much higher risk of liver damage or failure. Liver damage is a leading cause of death in the U.S., killing 44,000 Americans in 2019.
How Do You Recover Compensation After Taking Contaminated Valsartan?
Valsartan lawsuits are product liability claims. Product liability claims protect the public from dangerous products, such as contaminated pharmaceuticals.
This type of claim is unique because it is strict liability. Your lawyer must only prove that Valsartin suffered from a dangerous defect and caused your injury or illness to recover compensation for you. There is no need to prove negligence or intentional misconduct. This allows innocent consumers to recover compensation more easily than in some other personal injury claim.
Three kinds of defects create liability for a manufacturer or designer of an item:
- Manufacturing Defects
- Design Defects
- Warning Label Defects
All three of these defects may apply in the Valsartan lawsuits. Your lawyer may work with chemical engineers and medical experts to prove your product liability claim.
If you win your product liability suit, you can recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses after using Valsartan. Don’t let large multinational corporations get away with selling contaminated Valsartan. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.
To learn more, call our law firm at (405) 513-5658 or just visit our contact us page to send us an email and we will get back to you.
Contact the Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyers at McGuire Law Firm Today for Free Consultation
For more information, please contact the Oklahoma City personal injury law firm of McGuire Law Firm at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve throughout Oklahoma and its surrounding areas:
McGuire Law Firm – Edmond
200 E 10th Street Plaza
Edmond, OK 73034
United States
(405) 513-5658