Valsartan Lawsuits

So far there are no jury verdicts or known settlements of any legal claims. Cases are consolidated into multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and are ongoing.

Some generic drug versions were recalled in July 2018, leading to investigations of harmful side effects and then lawsuits. Valsartan was taken off the market because of its potential to cause certain cancers. 

Every year, about 3 million people in the U.S. take valsartan-containing medications. More than 1 million people may have taken contaminated variations of the medication in 2018. Given the widespread use of the blood pressure drug, experts expect more plaintiffs in the foreseeable future.

People who filed valsartan lawsuits say they developed health complications like cancer after taking N-nitrosodimethylamine and N-nitrosodiethylamine contaminated valsartan. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies NDMA and NDEA as carcinogenic or potentially cancer-causing substances.

Valsartan can cause other serious side effects as well. Life-threatening complications from taking the hypertension drug include low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and swelling of body parts (eyes, lower legs, tongue and throat). Not all valsartan-related cancer lawsuits include these side effects.

Plaintiffs in valsartan lawsuits have filed suits against multiple local and overseas companies involved in producing or distributing the generic version of the blood pressure drug Diovan. China-based Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and India-based Hetero Labs manufactured contaminated batches of valsartan.

These companies are the primary defendants. Patients are suing them because of an alleged failure to test for, detect and prevent toxic contamination in their products.

Some U.S.-based distributors and re-packagers of tainted valsartan are also named in suits. Degree of liability for cancer-related personal injuries will depend on the role each defendant is determined to have played in the valsartan supply chain.

Valsartan isn’t naturally carcinogenic. Not all batches of the medication were contaminated with NDMA during manufacture. The non-tainted brands of the drug weren’t recalled in the U.S. and their manufacturers aren’t involved in the ongoing valsartan litigation.

The FDA’s 2018 recalls in the U.S didn’t include Diovan. Novartis, the patent owner, said the recalls didn’t affect its valsartan or Sandoz valsartan medications. Sandoz’s valsartan is a combination medication that treats high blood pressure.

Your lawyer will review your case and can assist with documentation. If possible, keep your bottle of recalled valsartan. Your remaining valsartan pills may be tested for NDMA. If you have a valsartan-related cancer diagnosis after using the drug, your attorney can review your medical records for use in the case.

Eligibility to file a valsartan claim depends on your state’s applicable statute of limitations. That’s the period between your cancer diagnosis and filing the complaint in court. You can discuss any applicable potential exceptions to statutes of limitations in your case with your lawyer. Only a qualified attorney can properly determine your time limit to file.

Possible Compensation From a Valsartan Lawsuit Settlement

In general, the more severe your injuries and the more significant your financial losses, the more compensation you may expect. However, lawsuit settlement amounts vary widely based on many variables. Compensable financial damages often include cancer medical costs and lost wages during treatment.

In cases of long-term or permanent disability that limits the ability to work and earn a living, settlements typically consider loss of future earnings. Damages such as physical pain and mental stress from serious side effects are also compensable under personal injury law.