Lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) alleging that its drug Zofran (ondansetron) causes birth defects and that the company is liable because it failed to warn doctors and consumers of the danger, have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the US District Court of Massachusetts. There are at least 224 lawsuits in the MDL already. Parents are allowed to file directly in the Massachusetts court rather than having to file in their home state first, which is one of many moves made to help streamline the process.
Why are Parents Suing over Zofran?
The backstory on Zofran is a classic case of a pharmaceutical company putting profits before lives, and in this case the victims were babies. Zofran is an anti-nausea drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for use in chemotherapy patients and some surgical patients, to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting. It was never approved for use in pregnant women.
When Zofran hit the market there was not drug with FDA approval for treating morning sickness, something that about 80% of pregnant women suffer with. So GSK illegally marketed Zofran as a treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), and it failed to warn doctors and patients of the risk of birth defects in babies born to women who take the drug during pregnancy.
Zofran birth defects can include:
- Heart defects
- Hypospadias
- Cleft lip and/or cleft palate
- Kidney malformation
- Skeletal abnormalities
Zofran may also cause fetal death. If you believe that Zofran caused your child’s injuries, please talk to an experienced defective drug attorney right away to learn more about your rights.
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