Seventh Circuit Finds Paxil Manufacturer Did Not Meet Burden to Pre-empt
A 7th Circuit court has ruled that a lawsuit may go forward against SmithKline Beecham Corp. over the suicide of a 23-year-old woman who committed suicide after taking the antidepressant Paxil. According to an article in The National Law Journal, the court made a unanimous decision to reverse the lower court decision. The appellate court ruled that the drug maker, now known as GlaxoSmithKline, did not show "clear evidence" that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would have rejected a change in the drug's labeling to warn about the enhanced possibility of suicide in young adults who take Paxil.
Now, this woman’s case will move forward. Her death has not been the only suicide that has spurred a Paxil wrongful death lawsuit. Several suits have accused the drug maker of ignoring studies that indicated Paxil was ineffective in the treatment of children and adolescents and that they may increase suicidal thoughts. A lawsuit filed in June 2004 by former New York Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, also accuses Glaxo officials of misrepresenting data on the prescribing of Paxil to children.
There are now 600 or more pending cases in the United States, which allege that Glaxo knowingly put Paxil on the market and concealed its risks from consumers in order to boost profits. Paxil, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992, generated $942 million in sales just in 2008. Attorneys for Glaxo have denied all allegations and maintain that Paxil has cleared all clinical trials.
If you have suffered serious side effects as a result of taking Paxil, please dial 866-620-5757 to contact John Page from the St. Louis personal injury law firm, Page Cagle. As a skilled Missouri personal injury attorney, John Page will help you become more familiar with your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to seek compensation to cover pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of wages. Contact Page Cagle today.
Source: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202444598749&rss=newswire
