Seroquel Settlement Talks Ordered by Federal Judge in Diabetes Suits
Published: November 20th, 2009 • Comments: 11
The judge who is overseeing all of the federal Seroquel suits, which were filed by former users of the antipsychotic who developed diabetes and other injuries, is recommending that as many as 6,000 cases be sent back to the districts where they were originally filed for trial. Lawyers for both sides have also been ordered to meet with a mediator to see if there is any possibility for a Seroquel settlement.
During a hearing earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Anne Conway indicated that she will ask the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to return the cases to courts throughout the country for thousands of individual trials. The suits are currently consolidated before Judge Conway for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
AstraZeneca currently faces more than 14,000 lawsuits against Seroquel, which all contain similar allegations that the drug maker failed to adequately warn users about potential side effects that may increase the risk of diabetes, weight gain, hyperglycemia and a rare movement disorder known as tardive dyskinesia.
To date, AstraZeneca has refused to settle Seroquel cases, indicating that they will defend all lawsuits. However, internal documents produced during the litigation suggest that the drug maker was aware of the potential Seroquel side effects and continued to promote the drug as weight-neutral for years after clinical evidence demonstrated significant problems that could lead to diabetes.
Judge Conway has ordered AstraZeneca representatives and plaintiffs’ lawyers to meet with a mediator to discuss the possibility of a settlement for Seroquel cases. AstraZeneca has already spent $623 million defending the suits, including the federal litigation and thousands of other cases pending in state courts throughout the country.
Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) is an atypical-antipsychotic that is a top selling drug for AstraZeneca, generating nearly $5 billion a year in sales. Approved by the FDA in 1997 for the treatment of schizophrenia, it is also commonly used off-label for treatment of anxiety, obsessive dementia, compulsive disorders and autism. Seroquel has been used by more than 19 million people worldwide.
AstraZeneca lawyers had requested that Judge Conway send only about 60 cases back to their home districts in order to serve as test cases, so that the parties can get an idea of what juries think about the cases. Although the judge refused that request, there are 54 cases in Florida and Alabama that are almost ready to go to trial. Judge Conway indicates that she will ask other judges across the country to wait until she decides if those cases should go forward first.
Seroquel lawyers who represent plaintiffs in the litigation praised Conway’s decision, as the other 6,000 suits pending in the MDL are ready to go to trial. Returning the cases to the original districts for trial will help move the litigation towards a resolution and prevent AstraZeneca from continuing to delay justice for plaintiffs who have suffered serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. The Seroquel MDL was originally formed for the federal cases in 2006.
Comment by Michael on 22 November 2009:
i have diabetes from seroquel,now im dieing can money bring my life back.
Comment by sharon on 28 November 2009:
I took Seroquel for over a year for insomnia and gained about 20lbs. I had gastric bypass surgery before that and was surprised to find myself gaining weight. My doctor changed me to geodon. I got Tardive dyskinesia which is a possible side effect of seroquel and geodon. Anybody taking a drug in that family of drugs needs to look that up. It’s terrible and possibly permanent.
I am dealing with depression and anxiety now.
Comment by rick on 2 December 2009:
I was given seroquel for schizophrenia why do they make a drug that has no complete cure or actually no connection to the problem that they say the drug was made for. I know medicine must exist somewere I was at least physicaly healthy before this . If I over ate and gained 3 pounds I would be suprised . but going from 165 to 265 and becoming diabetic is unbelievable . if I get money for this god knows a release of liability to astra zeneca and a reinvestment in the correct pharm corp will be part justice done. or maybe I will have to find a cure myself.
Comment by VICKIE on 6 December 2009:
BECAUSE THEY GET PAIDDDDDDDDDDD.
Comment by Leroy on 30 December 2009:
I was given seroquel for schizophrenia and developed a serious case of diabetes (with no family history). The makers of this infamous product can never give us back our physical health, so, monetary compensation would be a small token in comparison to the irreversible diseases that it has caused thousands of people to contract.
Comment by scott on 31 December 2009:
My wife was placed on seroquel 5 yrs ago now her sugar levels are all out of wack up in the 500 to 600 range takes 3 shots a day still have problems cant get any info out of lawyers ( levin-simes-kaiser-gornick) she had them for over 3 yrs if any one has up dates please post
Comment by paulette on 6 January 2010:
ii was diagnoised with bipolar and was given seroquell my life has not been the same i develope diabetes highsugar gained weight have to take insulin everyday as you know diabetes is no joke it can cause heartattack stroke kidney failure now who would want to live life like that that astrazenca you all need to do the right thing and settle your misstakes thatyouall caused .
Comment by JULIE on 24 January 2010:
DOES ANYONE THINK WE’LL EVER SEE A SETTLEMENT?
Comment by priscilla on 24 January 2010:
I developed type 11 diabetes after several months on seroquel. I also have gained approx. 50 pounds. No history of diabetes in family, have never been overweight until seroquel. Now, I will have diabetes the remainder of my life. This is a very serious side effect. I wish i had never been given Seroquel. The company that makes the drug should be held responsible.
Comment by shelly on 10 February 2010:
aztrazenca needs to stop playin games and settle because they have put so many ppl including my self in harms way for the rest of our lives not knowing if we are going to survive the next day………seroquel ruined my life and no amount of money can give my health back
Comment by thaddeus on 12 February 2010:
Itook seroquel for one or two months and contracted diabetes1 now I am suffering illness that I can not control I take four injections A day plus eight different pills A day I do not think its right that astrazeneca can play god
the justice system should do what is right and find astrazeneca liable for their actions it is only common sense justdo the fair thing and asks them to settle and stop being so greedy we need justise that is american thank you.