U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in the District of New Jersey ordered the plaintiffs to submit a Plaintiff Fact Sheet (PFS), giving case-specific information about their valsartan cancer diagnoses and exposure.
According to a case management order published last week, each individual who filed Short Form Complaint in the valsartan litigation should complete a PFS within 90 days. The order includes individuals diagnosed with cancer, plaintiffs seeking medical monitoring through valsartan class action claims, and plaintiffs claiming other economic loss.
It is expected that Judge Kugler will establish a “bellwether” process, as part of the coordinated pretrial proceedings, where the parties will select a representative group of cases based on the information provided on the fact sheet. The group of cases will help the parties gauge how juries may respond to evidence and testimony, which will be repeated throughout the litigation.
Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It is also used to improve the chance of living longer after a heart attack. In people with heart failure, it may also lower the chance of having to go to the hospital for heart failure. Valsartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). It works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
Valsartan lawsuits filed across the country claim their use of toxic valsartan pills contributed to their cancer diagnoses. Plaintiffs claim cancers including liver cancer, small intestine cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancers among others.
Nearly 130 product liability lawsuits and class action claims involving valsartan are currently pending in the federal court system. The complaints raise similar allegations that the pills were contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), and other chemicals, which are known to increase the risk of cancers. The long term exposure to these chemicals causes liver cancer, stomach cancer, small intestine cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other cancers.
