Avandia Lawsuits Filed in Illinois For 186 People

Two new Avandia lawsuits were filed this week in Illinois state court, encompassing 186 plaintiffs from across the United States, who claim that a variety of illnesses and complications, including several deaths, were caused by the type 2 diabetes drug.

According to The Madison Record, the complaints were filed on May 15, 2009 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the manufacturer of Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, alleging that the drug company failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers and health professionals about potentially life-threatening Avandia side effects.

At least nineteen of the plaintiffs included on the complaints indicate that a death from Avandia was suffered by one of their relatives.

In 2007, Avandia (rosiglitazone) was associated with an increased risk of congestive heart failure, heart attacks and death, leading to a “black box” warning.

Since that time, consumer advocacy groups have called for an Avandia recall to be issued due to mounting evidence of potentially life-threatening side effects, and many experts have questioned the rationale for continued use of Avandia.

In addition to the increased risk of heart problems, side effects of Avandia have been associated with a potential increased risk of liver failure, bone fractures and a form of vision loss known as macular edema.

The 186 plaintiffs who filed their Avandia lawsuit in St. Claire County, join thousands of other people who have filed cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

All federal lawsuits over Avandia are consolidated in an MDL, or Multidistrict Litigation, that is centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania before U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe. The first Avandia suit is scheduled for trial to begin early next summer.