Over 1,200 Valsartan Cancer Lawsuits Pending in MDL

Over 1,200 Valsartan Cancer Lawsuits Pending in MDL

Introduction

Attorneys representing plaintiffs in over 1,200 Valsartan lawsuits, along with lawyers for various generic manufacturers accused of selling contaminated versions of the recalled blood pressure medication, are scheduled to meet with a new federal judge this month.

This meeting follows the recent retirement of the judge previously overseeing the case. Valsartan, the generic name for Diovan, became the focus of widespread litigation after several versions of the drug were recalled in late 2018.

This recall was due to contamination with carcinogenic chemicals such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), which resulted from changes in the generic drug manufacturing process. The contaminated drugs were distributed widely across the United States, leading to numerous lawsuits, including both class action claims and personal injury cases from former users diagnosed with various cancers, such as stomach, liver, esophageal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

Nearly six years after the litigation began, the first Valsartan lawsuit has yet to go to trial. The number of cases continues to grow, as cancers linked to NDMA contamination in Valsartan can take years to develop. Since 2019, all federal Valsartan lawsuits have been centralized in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for coordinated pretrial proceedings, as they involve common legal and factual questions.

The first trial, initially scheduled for March 2024, was postponed following the unexpected retirement of the presiding judge. In preparation for an upcoming status conference, the parties submitted a joint status report on July 9. This report aims to inform the new judge about past developments in the litigation, key rulings, and ongoing issues left unresolved by the previous judge's retirement.

The report highlights that there are currently more than 1,200 personal injury claims pending, involving plaintiffs who developed cancers after using Valsartan or similar drugs, including losartan and irbesartan. One critical issue addressed in the report is the rescheduling of the first bellwether trial, which was originally set to begin on March 18. Plaintiffs are advocating for the trial to be rescheduled for the fall of this year.

In the upcoming months, the new judge will face several important decisions that could significantly impact the litigation. These include determining the scope of issues to be addressed at trial, decisions regarding depositions, exhibits to be presented, and other procedural matters. These decisions will be crucial in shaping the course of the litigation and how future cases are handled.