On August 1, 2017, the Daiichi Sankyo Company announced it has agreed to a $300 Million settlement related to its olmesartan product, Benicar. The manufacturer/defendant, Daiichi Sankyo, is a global pharmaceutical company with origins in Japan. While agreeing to a $300 million settlement, the company admits no liability for any wrongdoing and continues to maintain its position that claims have no merit.
Patients who have taken Benicar and had a Benicar-related illness can participate in the $300 million settlement if they have a retainer in place with a qualified Benicar attorney by August 23, 2017.
BENICAR AND RELATED ILLNESS
Benicar is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), FDA-approved to lower blood pressure associated with hypertension. Unfortunately, the drug is also linked to severe gastrointestinal injuries, including the rare disorder called sprue-like enteropathy. The condition produces symptoms similar to those of celiac disease. Benicar (Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor and Tribenzor) may also cause lymphocytic colitis, microscopic colitis, and collagenous colitis. Patients experiencing Benicar side effects may suffer from the following side effects: chronic diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, kidney failure, and significant weight loss. The onset of these symptoms may occur months or even years after taking the drug.
Benicar was approved for sale by the FDA in 2003. However, beginning in January 2014, Benicar-related injury lawsuits were being filed across the country. In March 2015, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that the Benicar cases be consolidated into a single MDL in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey before US District Judge Robert B. Kugler. On August 1, 2017, Judge Kugler approved the $300 million settlement and characterized the attorneys on both sides of the dispute as “zealous advocates.”
LOOMING AUGUST 23, 2017 DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENT
As noted above, patients who experienced Benicar-related side effects can still participate in the settlement, but only if they are represented by a Benicar attorney by the August 23, 2017 deadline.
According to the master settlement agreement, the fund will not be paid out until 95 percent of all eligible litigants and claimants opt in to the settlement under various conditions. Once the agreed-upon thresholds are met, and following a review of claims by a Claims Administrator, claimants who meet specified criteria will receive compensation from the settlement fund.
CONTACT PAGLIALUNGA & HARRIS TODAY
Paglialunga & Harris PS is accepting new clients that took Benicar, suffered an injury, and wish to participate in the $300 million settlement. Contact us today if you or someone you care about has been injured by Benicar.
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