Tasigna Atherosclerosis Injury Lawsuit. Being diagnosed with cancer has to be some of the most devastating news one could hear. The fear of the unknown and the powerlessness over the disease makes the blood go cold. So too does the realization that you are facing your mortality if you cannot successfully combat the disease. […]
Tasigna Atherosclerosis Injury Lawsuit. Being diagnosed with cancer has to be some of the most devastating news one could hear. The fear of the unknown and the powerlessness over the disease makes the blood go cold. So too does the realization that you are facing your mortality if you cannot successfully combat the disease. Resolve can only go so far. You must rely on powerful drugs to treat this insidious disease.
One of those powerful drugs is Tasigna. Tasigna, also identified by its generic name nilotinib, is manufactured by the drug maker Novartis. Recent developments have shown that Tasigna can cause irreversible atherosclerosis that can lead to death. Novartis knew that people taking Tasigna could die from taking the drug and have warned people about that problem. Novartis also warned people who have Long-QT syndrome not to take Tasigna due to the possibility of instant death. However, Novartis failed to warn patients that their arteries could harden and they could need by-pass surgery or suffer a stroke from occluded, or blocked, blood vessels.
Parker Waichman LLP is currently investigating cases in which people who were prescribed Tasigna have suffered irreversible atherosclerosis, suffered a stroke, or died from taking the drug. Parker Waichman LLP is a national law firm which has experienced, dedicated, and aggressive drug defect attorneys zealously representing people who suffered from the failure of drug companies like Novartis who failed to investigate and subsequent warn people about the deadly side effects of taking their pills. If you or your loved one fell ill or died after taking Tasigna, contact Parker Waichman LLP today for information as to how you can protect your rights.
Sometimes referred to as CML, the disease causes a patient’s white blood cell count to grow significantly. However, the Philadelphia chromosome produces a protein called BCR-ABL which causes cells to grow abnormally, thereby resulting in cancer. This particular type of cancer may be found in the marrow of a person’s bones.
Tasigna, manufactured by the massive pharmaceutical company Novartis, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for consumer use in 2007. It is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Kinase inhibitors block specific proteins from attaching to cells, thereby preventing the growth of the cells. Consequently, the cancer cells Novartis designed the drug for people who were diagnosed with Philadelphia positive chromosome myeloid leukemia which is in the chronic phase. The FDA approved Tasigna for people who had chronic or acute Philadelphia positive chromosome myeloid leukemia but did not respond to treatment with medications containing imatinib.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Tasigna ingestion can lead to atherosclerosis.
The Canadian agency released this information to healthcare providers in 2013 after following several studies wherein patients who were taking Tasigna showed the following cardiovascular diseases:
The Public Health Agency of Canada cautioned healthcare providers to watch carefully for signs of symptoms of these potentially life-threatening, if not life-altering diseases.
Novartis itself was aware of the potential problem. In its safety review of the medication, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that Novartis knew about the potential for atherosclerosis to develop in patients taking Tasigna. Novartis recorded no fewer than 277 cases of atherosclerosis in its studies. For some reason, the 277 people who developed this chronic condition were an insignificant population. Therefore, Novartis refused and failed to include atherosclerosis as a possible side effect one could suffer from taking Tasigna on the medication’s warning label, at least initially. The latest Tasigna warning label cautions patients that atherosclerosis could occur and counsels physicians to be watchful for symptoms of those diseases. Novartis amended the label in 2016.
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque in the arterial walls. It can cause blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. This disease can cause poor circulation in the extremities. However, if formed in the heart or the brain, it can lead to fatal events such as heart attacks and strokes. If a person is fortunate enough to survive the event, they could be left with brain damage or permanent damage to the heart.
Blockages in the arteries do not go away with time. If caught early enough, aggressive therapies can slow or stop the blockages from growing. Otherwise, surgery is required to re-open the artery with a stent or by-pass the blockage altogether with an angioplasty.
Unfortunately, atherosclerosis is a silent killer. Most people do not know that they are suffering from the potentially fatal condition until it is too late.
You should follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment. However, if you or a loved one took Tasigna and suffered a cardiovascular event like a stroke, heart attack, or death, we recommend that you contact Parker Waichman LLP to learn how to protect your rights.
Every business that produces or manufacturers an item for consumer use must warn its consumers about potential side effects or dangers. Novartis failed to warn consumers that they could develop atherosclerosis from taking the drug despite their own tests noting that the health problem could occur. The failure to warn consumers about the problem prevents consumers from making an informed decision about their health. Patients have a right to make an informed decision. If they do not know about the potential for atherosclerosis before they take the drug, they do not know to pay close attention to the possibility of developing the disease and therefore, cannot take preventative measures.
Statutes of limitation are controlled by state law. Therefore, the law of the jurisdiction in which the claim arises will determine how much time you have to file a legal claim. Usually, the time frame is three years. Your Tasigna attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP will determine the statute of limitations and file the claim in a timely fashion, so the law does not bar you from receiving compensation.
The attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP will investigate your claim and put together the most compelling case which will maximize your chances of receiving a substantial monetary award. This area of the law is complicated and requires the use of expert witnesses to help prove your claim. You need attorneys who are not only skilled and experienced representing people injured by big pharmaceutical companies like Novartis.
Call Parker Waichman LLP today at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or use our contact form. Our Tasigna lawyers will work tirelessly to obtain justice for you and your family.
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