Nexium, Prilosec Lawsuit Claims Heartburn Drugs Caused Foot Fractures
Jul 11, 2011 | Parker Waichman LLP
Another woman has filed suit against AstraZeneca claiming its Nexium and Prilosec prescription heartburn medications caused her to suffer painful broken bones. Susan A. Poznanovich is being represented by David B. Krangle and Andres F. , attorneys with the national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP.
Prilosec and Nexium are part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. They are AstraZeneca's best selling drugs, while Nexium is the third largest-selling drug in the world. According to Poznanovich's lawsuit, the company sold over $26 billion worth of Prilosec between 1997 and 2002. Nexium sales amounted $5.2 billion in 2008.
The safety labeling for prescription proton pump inhibitors includes a warning - added in May 2010 - that they might be associated with a higher risk of hip, wrist and spine factures. But like similar lawsuits filed before it, this complaint alleges that AstraZeneca knew from earlier studies that Prilosec and Nexium can prevent the absorption of calcium, leading to bone deterioration and eventual fractures. In total, six studies have found that people over 50 who took proton pump inhibitors for more than 1 year were at a significantly higher risk of suffering a fracture.
According to her complaint, Poznanovich was prescribed and took Prilosec and Nexium between 1995 and 2010. In June 2009, she suffered multiple fractures in her right foot. In December, she suffered more fractures in her left foot. As a result of her injuries, Poznanovich continues to suffer excruciating pain. She also requires and will continue to require ongoing medical care, the lawsuit says.
Poznanovich further alleges that safer alternatives to Prilosec and Nexium exist, and had she known of the drugs' risks, she would not have taken the proton pump inhibitors. The suit, which is being brought under New Jersey Product Liability Act, claims the defendants were negligent and showed wrongful conduct in connection with design, development, manufacture, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distributing, labeling and sales.
