Nexium Class Action Lawsuits Filed Against AstraZeneca, Generic Makers

AstraZeneca and a number of generic drug manufacturers face at least two Nexium class action lawsuits that allege the companies engaged in anticompetitive agreements to delay the release of generic versions of the blockbuster heartburn drug.

The complaints were filed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 595 Health and Welfare Fund (PDF), and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters Employee Benefits Fund (PDF) against AstraZeneca, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories among others.

The electrical workers fund class action was filed last month in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Carpenters fund lawsuit was filed on November 9 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Did You Know?

Change Healthcare Data Breach Impacts Millions of Customers

A massive Change Healthcare data breach exposed the names, social security numbers, medical and personal information of potentially 100 million Americans, which have now been released on the dark web. Lawsuits are being pursued to obtain financial compensation.

Learn More

According to the lawsuits, AstraZeneca paid off the generic drug manufacturers to keep them from releasing generic extended release versions of Nexium. The funds claim this action was anticompetitive, and resulted in consumers paying more for Nexium than they should have, since the generic version would have driven down prices to a fraction of the brand name cost.

The agreements, reached between AstraZeneca and various generic manufacturers between 2008 and 2011, delay the release of generic Nexium until May 27, 2014. The lawsuits seek class action status to include anyone who has had to buy Nexium since April 14, 2008.

Nexium is one of the most widely used drugs in the United States, approved for treatment of acid reflux and other stomach disorders.  It is part of a class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which also includes Prevacid, Protonix, and Prilosec.  However, Nexium is the most popular of the class, with more than $6 billion in annual sales.

AstraZeneca already faces more than 1,000 product liability lawsuits involving the popular drug, alleging that the drug maker has failed to adequately warn about the risk of bone fractures, osteoporosis and other bone problems caused by side effects of Nexium.

Later this month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will hear oral arguments over whether the federal Nexium injury lawsuits should be consolidated as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, for pretrial proceedings.

3 Comments

  • fredAugust 31, 2016 at 7:33 am

    I used this drug long before there were warning issuses. around 2004, end results 2 kidney transplants

  • DiannFebruary 23, 2016 at 2:32 pm

    I used nexium for a while I ha e to pay the full amount because my insurance won't pay for my nexium I also have osteoarthritis and rheumatoid really bad.

  • JanJanuary 13, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    I took this drug for quite a few years and it always put me in the donut hole before the end of the year. Then I had to pay full price that was outrageous. The co-pay was expensive as well due to the fact that it was Nexium. It's very expensive. It presented a hardship on my husband and myself many times due to the fact that we are retired and the doctors insisted that I take Nexium. It's a[Show More]I took this drug for quite a few years and it always put me in the donut hole before the end of the year. Then I had to pay full price that was outrageous. The co-pay was expensive as well due to the fact that it was Nexium. It's very expensive. It presented a hardship on my husband and myself many times due to the fact that we are retired and the doctors insisted that I take Nexium. It's a very good drug and it doesn't surprise me at all if they paid off the generic manufactures. I am now taking another drug for acid reflux that does not work very well, but I have no other choice as I no longer can afford Nexium at all since my insurance does not cover it at all. My doc would prefer me to take Nexium but as I said, I cannot afford it, therefore, they put me on another drug that does not work as well.

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Ozempic and Rybelsus Side Effects Led to Ileus, Nausea and Vomiting, Lawsuit Alleges
Ozempic and Rybelsus Side Effects Led to Ileus, Nausea and Vomiting, Lawsuit Alleges (Posted today)

A Kentucky man's lawsuit claims Ozempic and Rybelsus side effects led to multiple trips to the emergency room due to nausea, vomiting and other reactions to his intestinal muscles being unable to push food through his digestive tract.

Multi-Day Suboxone Lawsuit Status Conference Being Held To Review Census Protocol and Procedures
Multi-Day Suboxone Lawsuit Status Conference Being Held To Review Census Protocol and Procedures (Posted today)

Lawyers will be meeting with the MDL judge presiding over all Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits on October 4 and 5, 2024, to finalize information needed to select a group of representative cases for bellwether discovery and trial.

Bard Settlement Reached To Resolve Hernia Mesh Lawsuits, With “Multi-Year” Payout Structure
Bard Settlement Reached To Resolve Hernia Mesh Lawsuits, With “Multi-Year” Payout Structure (Posted yesterday)

Lawyers have reached a confidential settlement agreement to resolve tens of thousands of Bard hernia mesh lawsuits after six years of litigation, but individuals must still agree to participate and settle their claims.