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Investors Want to Hold J&J's Feet to Levaquin Tendon Fire

. By
Newark, NJIt seems like Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the makers of Levaquin through its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, has more to worry about than tens of thousands of levaquin lawsuits. Now, in a move that is not unprecedented but is nonetheless rare, an investment firm with shares in J&J is trying to force the manufacturer to be held accountable for levaquin side effects and other injuries allegedly triggered by the powerful antibiotic.

As reported in the Star-Ledger (01/08/12), Harrington Investments has filed a shareholder's proposal with J&J, asking the manufacturer to describe any new initiatives intended to address the health and finances of patients adversely affected by the fluroquinolone antibiotic.

J&J is already facing many a levaquin lawsuit over the drug's risk for tendon ruptures, a debilitating injury that can severely impact an individual's life and livelihood. John Fratti, a former pharmaceutical rep whose health, he says, was severely affected by Levaquin, knows the fallout well. Today he works as a patient advocate for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The manufacturer of the levaquin medication has petitioned the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to disqualify the proposal from Harrington, according to a spokesperson, who noted that J&J continues to address the safety issues associated with levaquin tendon rupture. "We're very sensitive to the issues," said J&J spokesperson William Price.

However, an attorney specializing in corporate responsibility plans to formally submit the Harrington proposal to the SEC, with a view to letting the regulators decide whether or not the proposal belongs on the J&J proxy statement.

Harrington Investments, described as a socially responsible firm, feels that given the problems over levaquin tendon and the sheer volume of levaquin lawsuits, the manufacturer should be forced to address the issues raised in their proposal.

"When something generates this much litigation and this much negative attention," said Jack Ucciferri, director of research and advocacy for Harrington Investments, "maybe it's time to take a look at whether the product is worth the hassle??"and the expense," Ucciferri said. "We were appalled at the number of lawsuits."

And yet, according to the Star-Ledger, Levaquin continues to be one of J&J's biggest sellers. IMS Health reported that the antibiotic generated $1.5 billion in sales for the manufacturer on 2010.

The possibility of levaquin side effects tendon has always been a concern since the powerful antibiotic, intended to treat the most serious and stubborn of infections, was brought to the market in 1996. However, over that time the popularity of Levaquin has snowballed, together with increased reports of tendon ruptures as Levaquin took hold with the wider population.

Warnings have stepped up over the years, with black box warnings against the potential for levaquin torn tendons as well as for the potential to worsen symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

Public Citizen (PC), the consumer advocacy group, has been fighting with J&J and the FDA over the need of better warnings for years, employing tactics such as a legal challenge against the FDA in 2008 in an attempt to force the regulator to mandate a black box warning for levaquin and Achilles tendon problems.

Dr. Sidney Wolfe, who heads PC's Health Resource Group, indicated that in spite of the manufacturer's claims it is doing everything possible to warn the public and address issues surrounding its levaquin medication, "the company had every ability to do something sooner," Wolfe said.

"But the truth is, the more warning there is on a drug, it will arguably reduce the use of it."

Harrington Investments, based in California, wants to see J&J undertake for alleged victims of Levaquin outside of litigation. Fratti, who has had opportunities to address J&J shareholders in the past, supports the idea of establishing some kind of program to help alleged Levaquin victims.

Levaquin side effects can be devastating.

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
I had a lawsuit but was denied my claim. When I asked for my information be returned I only received back information that I could not take before the Judge and convince him that there was anything wrong with me. I don't know where my information went when I sent them about getting my disability in 1999 or 2000. This was before there was any warning about Levaquin and how it can nearly kill people . I am not very good with typing but really need to talk to someone who could talk to me and could explain all the details.
.

Linda Shaw


s
think don''





was wrong. My


Lawyer did not show where I took Levaquin in 1997 ,1998, 1999,----That is where all the problems started with my haelth

Posted by

on
why is this not consider a crime for saleing a drug that is this DEADLY ,LEVAQUIN HAS TO BE THE MOST PAINFUL EXPIERENCE
A PERSON WILL EVER LIVE THRU.IT SHREDDS THE TENDONS,
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT WILL DESTROY THE RIGHT AND LEFT ROTATOR CUFF,THE TIBIAS TENDONS IN FEET,ALSO THE MENICUS IN THE KNEES,HAND,
THE PAIN IS SO BAD THAT YOU WONDER IF YOU WILL SURVIE IT.
WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT THAT J&J COULD DO SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A NAME THAT YOU COULD
TRUST LIKE A FRIEND.

Posted by

on
The pain and suffering you are all writing about just happened to me. I was prescribed one 10 day course of Cipro for a sinus infection which didn't work and 10 days of Levaquin. I cannot believe the severity of the pain. I have not left my home in 3 days. All I want now is information on how to get this stuff out of my body and get back to living again. I still have the sinus infection and I am now taking Augentin. Is that going to make me worse? I'm terrified after reading some of your stories!

Posted by

on
I sincerely hope the SEC chooses to do the right thing and allow the question of Levaquin to remain on the shareholder's agenda. It would at least be a step in the right direction. Damage from Levaquin goes well beyond ruptured tendons, but every lawyer the floxed community contacts only wants cases of ruptured tendons within 60 days of taking the drug. I took Levaquin 16 months ago, and went from a healthy woman to one that can barely function. This effects our eyes, ears, organs, nervous system, even how we react to foods, chemicals and drugs. It is imperative that Johnson and Johnson begins research to find what this drug has done to our bodies, research how to correct the damage and stop pushing this to make money, but save it for what it was developed for--life threatening infections.

Posted by

on
Quote from the article - "But the truth is, the more warning there is on a drug, it will arguably reduce the use of it."

Historically - going back 12 years or so - that quote would be true. But, not with these FQ drugs. Physicians have increased prescribing them. Anyone want to address this fact? Has anyone else contacted every watch dog agency charged with patient safety and been told the black box warning does not exist? That mega doses prednisone and NSAID's given concomitant are just fine? And then refuse to take a report of severe poisoning by Levaquin? An event well documented by hospital records - records that were refused me for a good month. I was told I was suddenly crippled by a 'bad infection'............right. I had no medical problems prior to being treated - on no medication.

I did not have an Achilles tendon rupture -but a rotator cuff rupture losing the use of my left arm and hand. Damages are not limited to any one tendon folks. Nor to just tendons. And still being prescribed willy nilly. The excruciating pains it causes all over your body is unexplainable to those who have not suffered it. - to those who have - they understand full well. Add to this suffering the insult of being told by board certified medical professions that they are clueless, endless testing for 'other' diseases that come back negative - none to date will read the black box warning. You would think the legal profession could point out facts well documented.

Posted by

on
Bayer the manufacturer of Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) should be next in line as Cipro causes the same damages as Levaquin.

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