Benicar Lawsuits Continue, Daiichi and Forest Settle $39 Million Whistleblower Suit

San Francisco, CAWith a new year often comes a new round of lawsuits for various medical products and pharmaceuticals. In this case, Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil), a drug commonly prescribed to control blood pressure. However, a common complaint amongst Benicar lawsuits is sprue-like enteropathy, a rare but extremely nasty condition typified by uncontrollable diarrhea and other gastrointestinal discomfort.

The condition can lead to Benicar Illness and Weight Loss, and for some - even death.

One of the most recent Benicar lawsuits was filed earlier this month in federal court in San Francisco. Co-plaintiff Michael Ewald of Bakersfield, California, says in his statement of claim that “I suffered from chronic diarrhea and major complications from Benicar, causing me to be hospitalized, and experienced substantial weight loss,” the lawsuit states. “My condition was misdiagnosed and the treatments I initially received were ineffective until I was properly diagnosed. I hope that my lawsuit raises the awareness of dangers of Benicar. No one should experience what I have experienced.”

Plaintiffs allege that while taking the recommended dosage, they developed severe gastrointestinal injuries, including sprue-like enteropathy and villous atrophy. The alleged Benicar side effects landed plaintiffs in the hospital with severe and chronic diarrhea and severe weight loss, not to mention various other complications.

The Benicar defective products lawsuit alleges that the various enterprises involved with the manufacture and marketing of Benicar - Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories - promoted Benicar to consumers and their doctors amidst claims that Benicar and other similar medications were better, safer and more effective than other medications designed to treat hypertension. The plaintiffs also allege that defendants failed to disclose the dangers inherent with Benicar side effects.

It should be noted that earlier this month it was announced that Benicar manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo Inc. agreed to a $39 million payout in order to settle a whistleblower lawsuit alleging Daiichi had paid various physicians a series of kickbacks to prescribe various medications designed to treat high cholesterol and blood pressure, including Benicar.

According to Reuters Health Medical News (1/9/15), the settlement was announced the second week in January by the US Department of Justice. It was alleged that the violations to the False Claims Act occurred between 2004 and 2011. The case was US ex rel. Fragoules v. Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Case No. 10-cv-10420, in the US District Court in the District of Massachusetts. The Benicar sprue-like enteropathy lawsuit is Verduzco et al v. Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. et al, Case No. 3:2015-cv-00159 filed January 12 in California Northern District Court.

Plaintiffs in the Benicar side effects lawsuit are Louis Verduzco, Michael Ewald and Frances Mary Ewald. Defendants are Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Daiichi Sankyo US Holdings Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Forest Laboratories, Inc., Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Research Institute, Inc.