U.S. drug product defect lawyers post that Hospira, maker of several widely used generic drugs, has recalled 4 of its cancer drugs from the U.S. market due to defects in the products’ bottles. The recalled drugs consist of 19 lots of cytarabine, carboplatin, methotrexate, and paclitaxel that were shipped between September and April. Hospira blames this recall on its glass supplier. (Source: Eric Palmer, FiercePharma Manufacturing, 7/16/2012)
The recall stems from visible particles found embedded in the glass neck the necks of the vials of medications. The company says it knows of no adverse affects from the product defect. Hospira says that there’s a stock of available replacement products from other drug lots so U.S. patients should not face shortages.
Our U.S. drug product defect lawyers want to point out that Hospira’s quality control problem isn’t limited to the 4 cancer drugs in the U.S. This is the 4th consecutive month where the company has had to make the healthcare industry aware of product quality problems. And additional drug recalls are being issued by Hospira worldwide and affect countries as widely separated as Canada, Australia, Norway, and Vietnam.
The drugs recalled abroad include familiar generics like heparin, flourouracil, desferrioxamine, oxaliplatin, and epirubicin. Some patients in other countries are expected to face shortages of the Hospira drugs following the widespread recalls.
But not all problematic Hospira products have been yanked from the market. When 15 different Carpujet products, in a full 250 lots, showed signs of overfilled injection cartridges, the company merely warned healthcare providers to inspect their product and adjust the dosage if needed.
U.S. patients have faced shortages of Hospira drugs in the recent past as the sometimes-sluggish FDA has taken action to make the company resolve its product quality problems. While Hospira has seemingly spent a great deal of time and effort upgrading U.S. manufacturing plants, the company’s quality problems persist.
And patients and their family members that face shortages of the drugs they use have been taking action against the company, claiming that their health was adversely affected by lack of the drug. Some complaints by family members even allege that death resulted from lack of the drugs. Such lawsuits against Hospira represent a new initiative in product defect litigation.
Details of how patients and their surviving family members could benefit from legal action following these critical drug shortages remain to be fully worked out. But in the meantime, they and their concerned U.S. drug product defect lawyers are making efforts to hold the manufacturers accountable for their laggard approach to product safety and quality.
If the Hospira product comes into contact with the particles embedded in the glass at the neck of the vial and dislodge into the medication, patients might experience bruising, bleeding, inflammation, chest pains, respiratory problems, rashes, and/or itching. If the health of you or your loved ones has been adversely affected by a drug shortage, contact our concerned U.S. drug product defect lawyers for a free and confidential legal consultation regarding your situation.
We could help you evaluate your individual claim and eligibility for financial recovery following the injury. Our knowledge and skill could help you understand your available legal options and the legal strategies you could pursue to hold the drug manufacturers accountable for your harm. Call us today at 877-307-9500 or reach us through our online contact forms.