Currently 56 personal injury claims regarding Lipitor have been filed. More than 170 similar federal cases are pending in more than 40 districts before 100 different judges. As a result, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has ordered the consolidation of all federal Lipitor lawsuits.
One of the reasons for the consolidation is that the cases share similar facts based on common allegations. The cases all allege that use of Lipitor has led to the development of type 2 diabetes among women.
A previous request to consolidate the lawsuits in Sept. 2013 was denied. However, this most recent request was approved on Feb. 18, 2014. Pzifer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, fought against the consolidation efforts, as it will contribute to an accelerated litigation process.
“The MDL will allow the cases of women injured by Lipitor to have streamlined discovery and contribute to an expedited legal process,” said attorney Trent Miracle of Simmons Hanly Conroy in a press release. “I’m looking forward to continue working on behalf of those injured by Lipitor to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.”
Since the consolidation will lead to a smoother lawsuit process, there comes the question of whether or not Lipitor claims will spike. There has been a steady increase in the sales of Lipitor since 1998 when 13 million patients took the drug. By 2004 more than 40 million Lipitor prescriptions were written and by 2011, Lipitor was the best-selling drug in the world.
Several medical studies have directly linked Lipitor use among women to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The popular cholesterol medication, also known by the name atorvastatin, is a member of the statin class of hypolipidemics.
Learn more about Lipitor lawsuits or contact a pharmaceutical lawyer today to see if you have a case.
