Pharmaceutical Articles

Beasley Allen has one of the largest and most technologically advanced Mass Torts practices in the country. The Mass Torts division represents numerous people in claims against companies that manufacture and/or market defective pharmaceuticals and/or medical devices. The resources devoted to this division allow the firm to competently and conscientiously handle any group of cases, no matter how large, along with particular catastrophic injury cases.

Our firm was recently involved in one of the greatest victories in Mass Torts history, against drug manufacturer Merck regarding the drug Vioxx. After more than five years of hard-fought and difficult litigation, Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion, the largest pharmaceutical settlement in U.S. history, to resolve certain Vioxx-related claims involving plaintiffs who suffered a heart attack, including sudden cardiac death, or a stroke.

FDA says it finds no Vytorin-cancer link, but unsure

Posted: December 23, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it found no clear link between Merck’s blockbuster cholesterol drug Vytorin and increased risk of cancer, but it could not rule out the possibility that such a link exists. The agency

Women on HRT who experience breast tenderness at greater risk of cancer

Posted: December 22, 2009

Women who reported new-onset breast tenderness following use of estrogen-plus-progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were at a much greater risk of developing breast cancer than women on the same HRT who did not report tenderness in their breasts, according to

Patients with acute kidney injury at greater risk for premature death

Posted: December 21, 2009

People who suffer from acute kidney injury (AKI), a sudden loss of kidney function, are more likely to die prematurely after leaving the hospital even after their kidney function has recovered, according to a study conducted by researchers with the

Makers of generic Reglan liable for inadequate warning labels

Posted: December 21, 2009

Makers of generic drugs who do not adequately label their products to warn consumers of possible risks are not exempt from liability, according to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The court ruled on

Blood test to detect colon cancer seeks FDA approval

Posted: December 18, 2009

Yet another biotech company is diligently working to find a safer, less invasive test besides a colonoscopy to detect cancers of the colon and rectum. EDP Biotech Corporation of West Knoxville, Tenn., has announced that it is seeking FDA approval

NCI report: new cases of colon, rectal cancer deaths declining

Posted: December 17, 2009

The rate of new colorectal cancer cases and deaths from colorectal cancers has declined, according to a report from leading health and cancer organizations. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women, and the second leading

WBC boxing champ undergoes shoulder repair surgery

Posted: December 17, 2009

Jean-Thenistor Pascal, the Haitian-Quebecker professional boxer and current WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder this week and will be unable to train or fight for about nine weeks. The boxer hurt his shoulder while successfully

Less invasive alternative to colonoscopy set for 2011 clinical trial

Posted: December 16, 2009

A Madison, Wis., company is developing a less invasive way of screening for colon cancer that it hopes will take the place of uncomfortable colonoscopies and increase the number of people willing to be screened for colorectal cancers. Exact Sciences

New studies find CT scans come with extreme risks

Posted: December 16, 2009

Two studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that CT scans may be much more dangerous than previous studies have shown, contributing to at least 29,000 new cases of cancer every year and causing 14,500 cancer-related deaths.

December marks year anniversary of FDA OSP black box warning

Posted: December 11, 2009

One year ago this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning on a common type of laxative known as oral sodium phosphate, or OSP, available both over-the-counter and by prescription. After years of investigation, the