Couple Sues Drug Companies Over the Dangers of Injectafer
Injectafer, an intravenous medication used to treat adult iron deficiency anemia, is making headlines and not because of its efficacy. On January 15, 2020, Plaintiffs Maria and Anthony Munroe of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against the makers and sellers of Injectafer. The defendants in the case are Luitpold pharmaceuticals, Inc, American Regent Inc, Vifor Pharmaceuticals Management Inc., and Daiichi Sankyo.
In their complaint, filed in the US District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Plaintiffs allege that Injectafer causes a significant risk that patients will develop a dangerous sometimes fatal condition called Hypophosphatasia (HPP).
HPP is when levels of phosphates in the blood become low, causing symptoms that range from seizures, arrhythmia, muscle wasting, respiratory failure, and even death.
Patient Developed Severe HPP After Injectafer Treatments
The Patient Maria Munroe, at her doctor’s suggestion, was given Injectafer to treat her anemia. According to the complaint, after her second injection, her phosphate levels dropped to a critically low level. She needed hospitalizations, IV infusions of phosphates, and frequent blood draws. She continues to suffer from chronic HPP, including these effects:
- The insertion of a port for her frequent blood tests
- The need to walk with a cane
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Loss of teeth
- Bleeding gums
The Munroes are seeking damages from the defendants for their alleged negligence and failure to warn about the dangers of Injectafer, among other things.
The Complaint Contains Several Allegations of Negligence
Negligence occurs when a person or business violates a duty to another. Duties vary depending on the industry, person, and circumstances.
Generally, the duty is to exercise reasonable care. In their complaint, the Munroes allege that the defendants were negligent. How where they negligent?
The complaint states that the defendant violated the following duties, which, if true, would render them negligent and liable for damages:
- “The duty to exercise reasonable and ordinary care in the manufacture, design, labeling, instructions, warnings, sale, marketing, monitoring, promotion, and distribution of Injectafer so as to avoid exposing others to foreseeable and unreasonable risks of harm. Defendants knew or reasonably should have known that Injectafer was dangerous or likely to be dangerous when used in its intended or reasonably foreseeable manner.”
- “Defendants breached their duty to exercise reasonable and prudent care in the development, testing, design, manufacture, inspection, marketing, pharmacovigilance, labeling, promotion, distribution and sale of Injectafer.”
- Defendants failed to warn about Injectafer in all of its labeling, promotions and marketing materials that Injectafer caused severe HPP.
- Defendants failed to carefully and properly design, test, study, and manufacture Injectafer.
Our lawyers are currently reviewing additional Injectafer lawsuits. Given the clinical studies on Injectafer and the high rate of HPP it causes, there are likely hundreds and hundreds of people who have suffered because of this dangerous drug.
Call Our Defective Drug Lawyers if You or Someone You Love Was Injured by Injectafer
Our defective drug lawyers at Alonso Krangle, LLP are reviewing Injectafer cases now. If you or someone you love developed low phosphate, HPP, or severe HPP while getting Injectafer, you might be eligible to file a claim. Find out about your rights to file an Injectafer lawsuit by calling our lawyers who handle defective drug cases today at 800-403-6191.