Benicar Lawsuits

Background information on Benicar lawsuits, settlements and litigation updates published between 2014 to 2017.

Benicar Litigation Updates

August 7, 2017: Benicar Settlement Reached to Resolve Gastrointestinal Injury Lawsuits

Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories agreed to a $300 million settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits filed by patients who suffered chronic diarrhea and sprue-like enteropathy after using Benicar. The agreement came after years of multidistrict litigation and several key rulings in favor of plaintiffs. The payout closed one of the largest pharmaceutical mass torts involving a blood pressure medication.

July 19, 2017: Benicar Litigation Continues to Grow Following Settlement Announcement

Even after the global settlement was announced, additional claims continued to surface from former Benicar users who developed severe gastrointestinal problems. The multidistrict litigation court worked to finalize settlement participation and distribution procedures for eligible claimants.

February 28, 2017: Benicar Lawsuit Expert Challenges Rejected by Federal Judge

A federal judge overseeing the Benicar MDL rejected defense motions challenging the admissibility of plaintiffs’ expert witnesses. The ruling allowed testimony linking Benicar to intestinal injuries and chronic diarrhea to proceed in upcoming bellwether trials.

October 4, 2016: Federal Judge Issues Key Ruling on Benicar Causation Evidence

The MDL court denied several motions from Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories seeking to exclude scientific evidence that supported a connection between Benicar and gastrointestinal injuries. The decision cleared the way for bellwether trials to begin.

August 25, 2016: Benicar Bellwether Lawsuits Narrowed for Trial

Judge Robert Kugler narrowed the list of bellwether cases scheduled for early trials in the Benicar multidistrict litigation. The selected lawsuits involved plaintiffs who experienced long-term intestinal damage, chronic diarrhea, and significant weight loss linked to the hypertension drug.

February 24, 2016: Second Benicar Litigation Conference Held to Review MDL Progress

Parties involved in the Benicar MDL convened to discuss ongoing discovery, trial scheduling, and settlement possibilities. The conference confirmed that several thousand lawsuits remained pending and that bellwether trials were being prioritized to evaluate damages.

January 12, 2016: Bellwether Benicar Cases Selected in Federal Litigation

The court identified a group of representative lawsuits to serve as bellwether trials for the Benicar MDL. These cases were chosen to help evaluate the strength of claims that the drug caused sprue-like enteropathy and chronic gastrointestinal damage.

September 29, 2015: Discovery Plan Approved in Benicar Multidistrict Litigation

Judge Kugler issued a comprehensive discovery plan outlining procedures for depositions, expert witness designations, and trial scheduling. The plan established deadlines that would guide the federal litigation through 2016.

August 4, 2015: Lawsuits Over Benicar Diarrhea Symptoms Filed in New Jersey

Additional lawsuits were filed in New Jersey state courts by patients who suffered gastrointestinal injuries while taking Benicar. The filings paralleled ongoing federal claims and prompted a motion to centralize the state cases into coordinated multicounty litigation.

May 15, 2015: Benicar Diarrhea Cases Continue to Mount as MDL Expands

The number of federal Benicar lawsuits continued to grow as new plaintiffs joined the litigation alleging sprue-like enteropathy and chronic diarrhea. The MDL panel reported a steady increase in filings across multiple districts.

April 8, 2015: Petition Filed for Benicar Multicounty Litigation in New Jersey

Attorneys for plaintiffs requested that all Benicar lawsuits filed in New Jersey be centralized before one state judge. The petition sought to mirror the structure of the federal MDL to ensure consistent pretrial rulings and coordinated discovery.

March 3, 2015: Leadership Appointed in Benicar MDL

The federal court appointed a group of plaintiffs’ attorneys to leadership positions in the Benicar MDL, responsible for coordinating discovery and trial preparation. The appointments helped organize the growing litigation involving gastrointestinal injury claims.

February 11, 2015: Benicar MDL Status Conference Reviews Initial Discovery

A pretrial conference was held in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey to assess early progress in the Benicar litigation. Attorneys and the court discussed case filings, scheduling orders, and document production from the drug manufacturers.

December 18, 2014: Federal Panel Transfers Benicar Lawsuits into MDL

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized all Benicar lawsuits before Judge Robert B. Kugler in the District of New Jersey. The transfer order consolidated claims that the hypertension drug caused chronic diarrhea and intestinal injury.

November 19, 2014: Benicar Diarrhea Lawsuits Mount as MDL Considered

With hundreds of cases pending, the JPML met to consider whether to create coordinated pretrial proceedings for Benicar lawsuits nationwide. Attorneys argued that consolidation would streamline discovery for claims involving similar gastrointestinal side effects.

October 8, 2014: Defendants Oppose Benicar MDL Consolidation Request

Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories filed briefs opposing plaintiffs’ request to centralize the litigation. The companies argued that individualized medical histories made MDL coordination inefficient, though most plaintiffs supported consolidation.

September 17, 2014: Motion Filed to Centralize Benicar Lawsuits in Federal Court

Plaintiffs petitioned the JPML to consolidate Benicar lawsuits filed across the country, citing overlapping claims that the hypertension drug caused severe intestinal damage. The motion came as filings increased following the FDA’s safety announcement earlier that year.

August 13, 2014: Benicar Lawsuits Over Sprue-Like Enteropathy Continue to Mount

The number of product liability lawsuits against Daiichi Sankyo grew as more patients reported developing intestinal damage and chronic diarrhea. Plaintiffs accused the company of failing to warn that Benicar could mimic symptoms of celiac disease.

June 12, 2014: Benicar Lawsuit Filed Over Severe Gastrointestinal Side Effects

A lawsuit filed in federal court alleged that Benicar caused sprue-like enteropathy leading to severe diarrhea and malnutrition. The complaint claimed the manufacturer ignored safety data and misled physicians about the drug’s gastrointestinal risks.

May 22, 2014: Benicar Litigation Growing After FDA Safety Warning

Following an FDA announcement linking Benicar to sprue-like enteropathy, lawsuits began to accumulate nationwide from patients who developed severe gastrointestinal problems. The growing litigation alleged that the manufacturer failed to update warnings despite years of adverse event reports.

Benicar Lawsuit Examples

November 10, 2015: Benicar Kidney Failure Lawsuit Filed Over Severe Gastrointestinal Complications

A man filed a lawsuit alleging that Benicar caused chronic diarrhea and dehydration that ultimately led to kidney failure. The complaint accused Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories of failing to warn about the drug’s potential to cause severe fluid loss and long-term organ damage.

October 7, 2015: Benicar Diverticulitis Lawsuit Claims Drug Caused Serious Digestive Injuries

A California woman filed a product liability lawsuit claiming that years of Benicar use led to diverticulitis, chronic diarrhea, and malnutrition. The complaint alleged that the manufacturer concealed evidence linking the blood pressure medication to intestinal injury and delayed issuing adequate warnings.

November 6, 2014: California Benicar Lawsuit Filed Over Chronic Diarrhea and Weight Loss

A California resident filed suit after developing severe gastrointestinal problems attributed to Benicar. The complaint indicated that the plaintiff suffered ongoing diarrhea and significant weight loss, alleging the drug’s manufacturer misled consumers about its safety.

August 12, 2014: Benicar Warning Lawsuit Alleges Company Withheld Diarrhea Risk Information

A Florida woman filed a lawsuit alleging that Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories failed to warn physicians and patients about the risk of sprue-like enteropathy. She claimed that years of diarrhea and abdominal pain could have been avoided if proper safety disclosures were made.

July 18, 2014: Benicar Diarrhea Lawsuit Filed Against Daiichi Sankyo

A Louisiana man filed a complaint claiming that prolonged Benicar use caused chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, and severe intestinal damage. The lawsuit alleged that the company knew of the gastrointestinal risks but continued to promote the drug as safe and effective for hypertension.

June 20, 2014: Baugh Files Benicar Lawsuit Over Severe Digestive Injuries

A Kentucky woman filed suit after developing debilitating diarrhea and weight loss from taking Benicar. Her case echoed growing reports of sprue-like enteropathy, alleging the manufacturer ignored data showing the drug could damage the intestinal lining.

June 16, 2014: Lawsuit Filed Over Benicar HCT Side Effects and Gastrointestinal Problems

A plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Daiichi Sankyo alleging that the combination drug Benicar HCT caused years of uncontrollable diarrhea and intestinal injury. The complaint accused the company of negligence and failure to conduct adequate safety testing.

May 12, 2014: Brooks Files Benicar Lawsuit Alleging Chronic Diarrhea and Malnutrition

A Texas woman filed a product liability lawsuit alleging that Benicar caused persistent gastrointestinal issues and substantial weight loss. Her case was among the early filings that helped establish the pattern of intestinal damage later recognized by the FDA.

April 29, 2014: Benicar Enteropathy Misdiagnosis Lawsuit Filed Over GI Injuries

A plaintiff claimed that Benicar side effects were misdiagnosed as celiac disease, leading to years of unnecessary treatment before discovering the drug’s connection to her intestinal damage. The lawsuit alleged the manufacturer failed to alert the medical community to this risk.

February 27, 2014: Lawsuit Filed Over Benicar Side Effects and Chronic Diarrhea Problems

A complaint was filed by a Georgia woman who developed sprue-like enteropathy after using Benicar. She alleged the company withheld safety data linking the drug to gastrointestinal damage and failed to update the warning label despite mounting evidence.

February 10, 2014: Benicar Lawsuit Filed Over Chronic Diarrhea and Intestinal Problems

One of the earliest Benicar lawsuits was filed in federal court, alleging that long-term use caused severe diarrhea, dehydration, and intestinal injury. The complaint claimed the drugmaker misrepresented the safety profile of the hypertension medication and ignored years of adverse event reports.

Benicar Research and Reports

February 15, 2018: Petition Filed Seeking Benicar Recall Over Safety Concerns

A consumer advocacy group petitioned federal regulators to issue a recall of Benicar, citing long-standing concerns about its potential to cause intestinal injury and chronic diarrhea. The petition argued that Daiichi Sankyo failed to adequately warn doctors and patients despite years of evidence linking the hypertension drug to sprue-like enteropathy.

October 14, 2015: Study Finds Benicar Side Effects Mimic Gluten Intolerance

Researchers reported that Benicar can trigger digestive reactions similar to those caused by gluten in celiac disease patients, leading many individuals to follow unnecessary gluten-free diets before the drug’s risks were recognized. The study highlighted how the medication’s side effects often resulted in delayed or incorrect diagnoses.

June 8, 2015: FDA Rejects Broader Hypertension Drug Warning Request

Federal regulators declined to expand warning labels for a class of hypertension medications known as ARBs, including Benicar, despite prior safety controversies. Critics argued that the decision failed to address lingering concerns over intestinal and cancer-related risks tied to the drugs.

May 6, 2015: Benicar Heart Drug Study Suggests Potential Risks May Extend Beyond Gut Injuries

New research into olmesartan medoxomil, sold as Benicar, raised questions about whether the drug could contribute to cardiovascular complications in some patients. Investigators called for closer long-term monitoring and post-market evaluation of the drug’s safety profile.

January 29, 2015: Case Study Links Benicar to Severe Enteropathy Symptoms

A published medical case study described a patient who developed chronic diarrhea, dehydration, and intestinal inflammation linked to Benicar use. Symptoms resolved after discontinuation, reinforcing suspicions that the hypertension medication could cause sprue-like enteropathy unrelated to gluten sensitivity.

December 22, 2014: Benicar Settlement Reached Over Illegal Marketing Kickbacks

Daiichi Sankyo agreed to pay $39 million to resolve federal allegations that it paid illegal kickbacks to physicians for prescribing Benicar and other drugs. The settlement stemmed from claims that the company’s marketing practices compromised patient safety by incentivizing overprescription.

October 29, 2014: Study Finds Benicar Abdominal Pain Problems Not Seen With Other ARBs

A comparison of blood pressure medications found that gastrointestinal side effects like abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea occurred significantly more often among Benicar users than with other ARB drugs. The study provided further support for claims that Benicar’s risks were unique within its class.

September 3, 2014: Benicar Enteropathy Study Confirms Link to Intestinal Damage

A peer-reviewed study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings confirmed that Benicar could cause villous atrophy and severe malabsorption similar to celiac disease. Researchers urged physicians to consider drug-induced enteropathy in patients presenting with unexplained chronic diarrhea.

August 15, 2014: Case Report Describes Benicar-Induced Enteropathy and Weight Loss

Doctors documented another instance of sprue-like enteropathy in a patient taking Benicar, resulting in dramatic weight loss and malnutrition. The case added to a growing body of literature linking the hypertension drug to severe gastrointestinal injuries.

February 4, 2014: Benicar Settlement Over Kickback Allegations Raises Ethical Questions

Federal authorities accused Daiichi Sankyo of paying improper financial incentives to doctors prescribing Benicar. Although the company denied wrongdoing, the case drew renewed scrutiny to its safety record amid emerging reports of intestinal side effects.

September 24, 2013: Benicar Causes Non-Celiac Sprue, Report Finds

A clinical investigation concluded that Benicar can induce a form of sprue unrelated to gluten sensitivity, causing severe intestinal inflammation and chronic diarrhea. The findings established that symptoms often resolved rapidly after discontinuation of the drug.

August 22, 2013: Researchers Warn of Benicar Problems Similar to Celiac Disease

Medical researchers highlighted that Benicar-induced enteropathy mimicked celiac disease in both presentation and pathology. The similarity often led to misdiagnosis, with many patients continuing to suffer gastrointestinal distress despite gluten-free diets.

April 30, 2013: Study Confirms Benicar Side Effects Cause Serious Intestinal Problems

A large review of clinical data linked Benicar to intestinal damage characterized by villous atrophy and malabsorption. The report found that the hypertension drug could trigger a reaction in the small intestine that severely impaired nutrient absorption.

June 26, 2012: FDA Warns of Benicar Side Effects Resembling Celiac Disease Symptoms

The FDA issued a warning after identifying dozens of cases where Benicar caused sprue-like enteropathy. The agency advised doctors to discontinue the medication in patients presenting with chronic diarrhea or significant weight loss.

December 20, 2011: Benicar Side Effects Associated With Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Researchers first identified that Benicar could cause intestinal inflammation resembling celiac disease. Patients reported chronic diarrhea and unexplained weight loss that improved once the medication was discontinued.

February 2, 2011: Review Examines Cancer Risks Among ARB Blood Pressure Drugs

A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Oncology evaluated whether ARBs, including Benicar, might increase the risk of cancer. While results were inconclusive, the study called for ongoing surveillance due to potential links between long-term ARB use and malignancy risk.