In the latest complaint filed by a couple in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on May 29, Camber Pharmaceuticals, Hetero USA, Inc., and The Kroger Company have been alleged for selling defective and dangerous generic versions of the blood pressure drug valsartan.
The husband started using generic valsartan pills for treatment of his high blood pressure and heart failure conditions since 2013. He complained that he was diagnosed with lung and pancreatic cancer in September 2017 following the exposure to the pills that were recalled in recent months due to the presence of cancer-causing chemicals N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) or N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). The defendants further face allegations of manufacturing and design defects, failure to warn, negligence, gross negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, violation of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act, and loss of consortium. The plaintiffs have claimed compensatory and punitive damages.
There are currently 10 class action lawsuits and one individual action pending in District Courts across the U.S. against Valsartan. Valsartan claims are consolidated under MDL No. 2875 (In re Valsartan Products Liability Litigation) in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, presided by Judge Robert B. Kugler, U.S.D.J and Hon. Joel Schneider, U.S.M.J.
