Generic Lipitor Class Action Lawsuit Filed After Tablets Recalled

Ranbaxy faces a class action lawsuit over its recently recalled generic Lipitor medication, which was removed from the market last month after it was discovered that glass fragments may have contaminated the medication during manufacturing. 

The generic Lipitor class action lawsuit (PDF) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by Francis Fenwick on November 29, seeking to represent anyone who purchased Ranbaxy’s generic atorvastatin.

Ranbaxy recalled their generic Lipitor only one day before the complaint was filed.

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Although the manufacturer indicates that there have been no reports of illness or injury linked to the medication, small glass particles that are less than 1mm in size may pose a risk for consumers. Parts of a missing glass shield at the company’s India facility are suspected of being the source of the fragments.

Due to manufacturing problems, Ranbaxy has only been allowed to sell generic Lipitor in the United States, after the FDA banned about 30 of its drugs from the market in this country amid a number of manufacturing problems

The generic drug maker has also been accused of faking data sent to the FDA. The agency and Ranbaxy reached a consent decree in January, which requires the company to rehabilitate its manufacturing processes until they meet FDA standards.

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) was first approved by the FDA in December 1996 for use in lowering cholesterol. It is a member of a class of drugs called statins and works by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver that takes part in cholesterol production.

The lawsuit alleges that Ranbaxy has not done enough to warn consumers about the dangers of the glass fragments in the recalled Lipitor equivalent.

“The notice on the defendants’ website concerning the limited, retail level only recall did not offer a refund to consumers and did not provide any way for consumers to obtain information about the tainted product, the dangers involved with it, the dangers of ingestion of it, and other related issues,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit seeks a refund and damages payments for anyone who got the recalled drug, fines that would prevent Ranbaxy from profiting from the recalled products, an injunction against future sales of Ranbaxy generic atorvastatin, and punitive damages.

6 Comments

  • dianeSeptember 24, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    since i took lipitor , it made me evry sick while on it and also i developed diabetes type two and have had to take insulin shots three times a day now and have serious health issues and am limited to doing things i used to be able to do.. i still feel sick alot..

  • ritaMay 7, 2013 at 9:56 pm

    I have been on lipitor since 2007 and diagnosied with diabetes in 2008. I even had the lipitor with the class in it. I have had my stomach ck. out and my colon and the doctor that did the test told me to have my doctors to ck my lipids. I have also complain about when i take liptor my stomach hurts.

  • AnthonyFebruary 22, 2013 at 2:07 am

    I have been taking lipitor. I have to check with walmart to see how long I've been getting this brand. I need to check with a lawyer.

  • JOYCEDecember 20, 2012 at 1:54 am

    MY DOCTOR JUST STARTED ME ON LIPITOR,I HAVE DIABETIES NOW ARE THEY PUTTING ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN,IF TERE IS A LAWYER PLEASE E-MAIL ME TOO,I'AM ONLY 62 AND FINDING OUT ALL THESE PILLS ARE KILLING ME ,I FEEL LIKE GOING OFF ALL AND TAKE MY CHANCES.AND HOPE THEY GET ME TO THE HOSPITAL IN TIME,I BETTER GO TO THE LAWYER FIRST I THINK FOR A NEW WILL.

  • ZENOBIADecember 18, 2012 at 4:08 am

    THERE SHOULD BE SOME LAWFIRM TO TAKE THIS CASE. HOW CAN RANBAXY GET AWAY WITH THIS. THIS IS PEOPLE LIFE WHY SHOULD WE BE DECEASE TO GET JUSTICE FROM THIS COMPANY..PEOPLE TAKING THIS DRUG TAKE THEM DAILY. HELP

  • nadeDecember 6, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    how do i file jount the claa action lawsuite? for atorvastatin side effects

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