Valsartan Lawsuit Information
Valsartan Recalled Due To Cancer Concerns
People who took the generic blood pressure medication called “valsartan” need to be concerned about a recent recall of this medication. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) recently issued a recall of some 
prescription medications containing valsartan because of concerns that some of the generic medications were contaminated with an impurity that can cause cancer in humans. You can contact the pharmacy where you bought your valsartan to find out which company sold the products to your pharmacy. There are several generic drug companies who made valsartan that is believed to have been contaminated. That information can be found on the FDA’s website. Only generic versions of the drug made by the following three companies have been recalled:
- Major Pharmaceuticals
- Teva Pharmaceuticals
- Solco Healthcare
At this time, it is believed that the manufacturing process that caused the cancer causing impurity did not start until 2012. Therefore, thousands of people could have been exposed to this cancer risk between 2012 and 2018. Our firm is investigating cases for people who took valsartan between 2012 and 2019 who have developed cancer.
Types of Cancer Associated with Valsartan
Patients who have taken recalled valsartan medicines for long periods may be at risk for:
- Cancerous tumors
- Stomach cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Colorectal cancer
How to Bring A Valsartan Cancer Claim
If you, or a loved one, took valsartan between 2012 and 2019 and have been diagnosed with cancer in the stomach, liver, kidneys, bladder, intestines, colon or rectum, or died from such cancer after taking valsartan, please contact our legal team now for a free, no obligation consultation. You may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries caused by valsartan.
CALL NOW – 706-207-5103
What is Valsartan?
Valsartan is a generic medication used to treat:
- high blood pressure
- congestive heart failure
- reduce the risk of repeat events in people who have already suffered a heart attack or heart failure
Valsartan belongs to a class of drugs known as “angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)”. ARB drugs block the action of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in the body. The ACE attaches to receptors found in blood vessels, causing them to narrow or constrict. This leads to an increase in blood pressure. By blocking the ACE, the blood vessels can relax and expand and this causes a drop in blood pressure.
Why Was Valsartan Recalled?
The Chinese company, Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals (ZHP”), makes Valsartan. ZHP detected an impurity called “N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)” in the valsartan it had supplied to generic drug manufacturers in the European Union and in the United States. After learning that valsartan may be contaminated with NDMA, a known cancer causing chemical, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) began a review of drugs containing valsartan. Before completing the review, the EMA decided to recall all medicines containing valsartan supplied by ZHP. The recall affected about 2,300 batches sent to numerous European countries, including Germany, Finland, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and France.
In July of 2018, the FDA joined the EMA in recalling all medicines sold in the U.S. containing valsartan supplied by ZHP. “When we identify lapses in the quality of drugs and problems with their manufacturing that have the potential to create risks to patients, we’re committed to taking swift action to alert the public and help facilitate the removal of the products from the market.” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D
What is NDMA?
NDMA is a chemical that can form during certain industrial processes. In the past it was used to produce liquid rocket fuel, additives for lubricants, and softeners for copolymers. It’s not commercially produced or used in the U.S. anymore. However, NDMA can be unintentionally produced or released during certain chemical reactions involved in manufacturing, which seems to be what happened with ZHP during the production of valsartan.
The dangerous side-effects from NDMA depend on the level of exposure to NDMA. NDMA is a genotoxin. It does damage at the cellular level. The EPA knows that high levels of NDMA exposure can cause liver damage in humans. The EPA has also classified NDMA as a “probable human carcinogen” based on animal studies that showed exposure to NDMA increased risk of tumors. However, there is significant scientific evidence that NDMA is very toxic. In fact, when scientist want to study cancer, they can expose an animal to NDMA because it can cause cancerous tumors. NDMA is a
How to Bring A Valsartan Cancer Claim
If you, or a loved one, took valsartan between 2012 and 2019 and have been diagnosed with cancer in the stomach, liver, kidneys, bladder, intestines, colon or rectum, or died from such cancer after taking valsartan, please contact our legal team now for a free, no obligation consultation. You may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries caused by valsartan.
Fill Out The Form Below Or CALL NOW – 706-207-5103
[callrail_form form_id=”FOR14ab891ff15649a6917e7becf68d6cdc”]
