Onglyza Heart Failure Lawsuits Could be Centralized in California Federal Court, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Plaintiffs who allegedly developed heart failure due to Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR have filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation requesting the centralization of their cases in a single federal court. (Petition Ref# MDL-1710-01)

According to the October 11^th Motion for Transfer, there are currently 44 Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR lawsuits pending in 24 federal jurisdictions, all of which put forth virtually identical legal and factual theories. Plaintiffs predict that hundreds of similar lawsuits will be filed in the future, and contend that centralization in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, will serve the convenience of the parties, witnesses, counsel, and the judicial system.

"Our Firm has heard from numerous individuals concerned that they developed heart failure due to treatment with Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR. Centralization could well be warranted, as it is realistic to expect that hundreds of similar lawsuits will be filed against the manufacturers of these Type 2 diabetes medications," says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is filing free legal reviews to individuals who were diagnosed with heart failure following treatment with Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR.

Onglyza and Heart Failure

Onglyza (saxagliptin) was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009, while Kombiglyze XR (saxagliptin and metformin) was cleared for sale in November 2010. Both medications are used in conjunction with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

The FDA commenced a safety review of all saxagliptin-containing medications in February 2014, after the SAVOR-TMI clinical trial suggested that the drugs were associated with a 27% increase in hospitalizations for heart failure, as well as a higher risk of all-cause mortality.

In April 2015, FDA advisers recommended that the prescribing information for Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR be modified to include heart failure as a possible complication. The FDA ordered the drugs' manufacturers to modify the labels' "Warnings and Precautions" section in April 2016.

Plaintiffs who have filed Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR lawsuits claim AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb concealed information linking saxagliptin to an increased risk of heart failure. They also accuse the companies of failing to warn doctors and patients of its alleged potential to cause cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure and death.

If these cases are consolidated in a single court, they will undergo coordinated pretrial proceedings, including discovery and motion practice. The multidistrict litigation process is intended to improve judicial efficiency and reduce duplicative discovery and inconsistent court rulings when many lawsuits have been filed that put forth similar allegations involving a single product or class of products. All cases included in a multidistrict litigation maintain their identity and are judged on their own merits. Any claims not resolved during the multidistrict litigation are remanded back to their original court of filing for trial.

Type 2 diabetes patients who were diagnosed with heart failure while using Onglyza or Kombiglyze XR could be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. To obtain a free case evaluation, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website, or call the Firm directly at 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP  
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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Contact Information: 
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq. 
Bernstein Liebhard LLP 
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http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/  
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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP