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Tasigna is a drug that treats some of the most severe types of cancer you can ever develop. However, the drug comes with a host of side effects, some of which can be fatal. Despite the risks and the severity of some of those side effects, the warning label on Tasigna fails to mention them. As a result, numerous people taking Tasigna have developed life-threatening conditions. Some of them have turned out to be fatal.
If you or someone you love has suffered from these side effects of Tasigna, you may be entitled to compensation.
The personal injury lawyers and the defective pharmaceutical drug attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian can help. Here, they answer some of the most commonly asked questions about Tasigna, its side effects, and how victims can invoke their rights to compensation.
What Does Tasigna Treat?
Tasigna is a drug that is approved to treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a blood cancer that affects the white blood cells. It involves the unchecked spread of bone marrow tissue, which eventually gets into the bloodstream.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia that is Philadelphia chromosome-positive comes from an abnormality in the Philadelphia chromosome. This chromosome can lead to the spread of leukemia cancer cells if it is abnormally short. In these cases, a kinase protein cell in the chromosome can cause it to constantly reproduce and divide, leading to chronic myelogenous leukemia.
How Does Tasigna Work?
Tasigna treats Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia by working as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. By altering how kinase proteins work in the body, Tasigna can patch up abnormal Philadelphia chromosomes and stop their constant reproduction. This can reduce a patient’s white blood cell count back to normal levels and treat the leukemia cancer.
Studies have suggested that tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs like Tasigna are effective to treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. Before these drugs were available, these particular types of leukemia tended to have survival rates of fewer than five years. Since drugs like Tasigna have been developed, survival rates longer than eight years are more expected.
What are the Serious Side Effects of Tasigna?
Tasigna has been linked to several serious side effects, including:
- Hemorrage
- Myelosuppression, or bone marrow activity that is too low
- Atherosclerosis
Some of these side effects can even be fatal.
It is the atherosclerosis, however, that has led to the most legal action against Novartis, the company that makes and sells Tasigna.
What Is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a type of medical condition known as peripheral artery disease. Atherosclerosis involves blood vessels – arteries and veins – whose inside walls have become thickened with a buildup of fats and cholesterol. Over time, this buildup thickens the walls of the vein or artery, squeezing the space where blood can flow. This can lead to a blood clot that can cause a wide variety of severe and even life-threatening medical problems.
Why are People Suing Novartis for Atherosclerosis Caused by Tasigna?
People who have taken Tasigna to treat their leukemia and who ended up suffering atherosclerosis as a result have filed lawsuits against Novartis because the drug company refused to warn doctors and patients about these risks. These lawsuits against Novartis argue that the drug company had a legal duty to warn people of the risks of taking Tasigna and developing atherosclerosis but failed to do so.
When Do Drug Companies Have to Warn People of the Risks of Taking Their Drugs?
Drug companies have to make reasonable disclosures about the risks of taking their drugs. The law requires these disclosures because doctors rely on them to make effective prescriptions for their patients that will not interact with other drugs or impair their lifestyle. Patients rely on these disclosures about a drug’s risks so they can make informed decisions about the pros and cons of using a drug.
However, drug companies recognize the fact that disclosing all of the risks of their products will deter some patients and cut into the company’s profits.
What Evidence Is There That Novartis Should Have Warned People of the Risks of Developing Atherosclerosis?
The lawsuits against Novartis for failing to warn people about the risks of developing atherosclerosis all make a similar argument: Novartis warned people in Canada about the risks but did not warn people in the U.S.
The warning label for Tasigna has since been updated to include a passing mention of the risks of peripheral artery disease, but the addition is woefully inadequate and was not accompanied by a prominent warning.
How Can a Defective Drug Lawyer Help If I Have Been Hurt by Tasigna?
A defective drug lawyer can help by making sure your lawsuit is included in the ongoing multidistrict litigation, or MDL, that is currently pending against Novartis. Joining an MDL is not simple, and lots of forms need to be filed correctly to make sure you are included and your rights are represented in the MDL.
By joining the MDL, you can join thousands of others like you who have been hurt by Tasigna, fighting for your right to compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Inability to earn an income in the future
- Pain and suffering
The MDL process speeds up the legal system by combining everyone’s lawsuits against Novartis that are related to Tasigna’s side effects. This way, Novartis can provide evidence to everyone, and all of the victims can share important evidence and documents with each other. This significantly speeds up the process of recovering the compensation that you need and deserve.
Defective Drug Lawyers at Gilman & Bedigian
The personal injury and defective drug lawyers at Gilman & Bedigian strive to help people who have developed peripheral artery disease after taking Tasigna to treat their leukemia. With an adequate warning from Novartis, you had no way of actually weighing your treatment options against one another to come up with the best healthcare decision for your unique needs.
The lawyers at Gilman & Bedigian can help you recover the compensation you deserve and hold another large pharmaceutical company accountable for their actions. Contact them online.