Parker Waichman Representing California Woman With Irreversible Retinal Damage, Including Maculopathy, and Severely Impaired Vision Resulting From Use of Elmiron Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm that has long fought to protect the rights of victims injured by allegedly defective drugs and defective medical devices, filed suit on July 7, 2020, in the United […]
Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm that has long fought to protect the rights of victims injured by allegedly defective drugs and defective medical devices, filed suit on July 7, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals Inc., and others on behalf of Joanne Jackson, a San Diego resident and longtime user of the drug Elmiron, who now suffers from retinal damage, pigmentary maculopathy, and vision loss as a result of her use of the medication. Jackson, et al. v. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., et al., Docket No. 20CV1266 JM BLM.
According to the extensive and detailed complaint, Jackson was prescribed and used Elmiron to treat interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. Like significant numbers of Elmiron users, Jackson has now been diagnosed with retinal damage, pigmentary maculopathy, impaired vision, and other related vision issues. The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, mental anguish, loss of wages and earning capacity, and more on behalf of Jackson.
The lawsuit lays out a startling string of allegations. The action claims that defendants Bayer Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, as well as other companies involved in the development, manufacture, and sale of the drug, failed to warn, advise, educate or otherwise inform not only Elmiron users and potential users but also physicians and governmental regulators in the United States about the risk of damage to the patient’s eyes.
Those risks included impaired vision (night blindness or total blindness), retinal damage, maculopathy, and the need for medical, ophthalmological testing or monitoring. The complaint also reveals that in addition to these serious safety risks, early clinical studies of Elmiron in California relied upon to support approval of the drug failed to demonstrate that Elmiron was an effective treatment for interstitial cystitis in the first instance. Additional studies conducted since those earlier clinical trials also demonstrated that the drug was no more effective than a placebo for the treatment of interstitial cystitis.
Jerrold S. Parker, founding partner of Parker Waichman LLP, who has battled for drug and medical device safety over many decades and in many courtrooms throughout the United States, said that the extent of Elmiron damage is some of the most significant he has ever seen.
“Sadly, we are now seeing many Elmiron users who are facing serious, irreversible vision issues and even blindness as a result of the use of this drug, and it may have very limited, if any, efficacy,” Parker said.
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Parker Waichman has represented clients in injury lawsuits for decades. If you or someone you know is interested in filing an Elmiron lawsuit, please contact Parker Waichman LLP at the firm’s website at www.www.yourlawyer.com or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).