Elmiron Lawsuits
If you or a loved one took the bladder medication Elmiron and later developed vision problems, such as macular degeneration or pigmentary maculopathy, you may be able to recover compensation. Furthermore, this could include medical care costs, lost wages, and more.
Our team at Anastopoulo Law Firm can help potential clients learn if they qualify to join the Elmiron lawsuits already in progress. Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2973 is currently underway. We offer free case reviews and will discuss your legal options with you in detail during this initial consultation.
What Compensation Is Available in a Successful Claim?
The recoverable damages in an Elmiron lawsuit will depend on the injuries you suffered, their severity, and other factors. In general, you can expect that compensation might include:
- Related medical bills for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment
- Medical devices such as glasses
- Lost wages if you cannot continue your career
- Other related expenses
- Pain and suffering losses
- Mental anguish
Our team works to put a just settlement value on our clients’ claims, ensuring we understand how much they deserve from a settlement agreement. This includes calculating the costs and losses they incurred and putting a price on their intangible losses. Doing so is vital for ensuring we do not leave money on the table during this process.
What Are Punitive Damages?
Our Anastopoulo Law Firm team can also discuss the likelihood of punitive damages with you. Punitive damages are more common in defective drug cases than in many other types of personal injury claims. Hence, these damages do not compensate you for your losses. Instead, they penalize the drug manufacturer for their dangerous and deceptive behavior that led to your injuries.
We Will Review Your Potential Elmiron Macular Degeneration Claim Today
Anastopoulo Law Firm offers free case reviews. Additionally, we will meet with you and investigate your claim to determine if we believe you qualify to take legal action against the makers of Elmiron.
We have locations throughout North and South Carolina and offer telephone consultations in areas where we do not have an office. Thus, we can help you better understand your case, and our initial case evaluations are always free.
For 25+ years, our firm has provided personalized, compassionate, and aggressive representation for injured Carolinians. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients. You can learn more by reading our testimonials and recent results. If we work on your case, we will:
- Answer your questions about mass torts
- Keep you updated about what to expect
- Explain the multidistrict litigation (MDL) underway and represent you throughout
- Collect evidence to support your claim
- Value your recoverable damages
- File an Elmiron lawsuit on your behalf
- Pursue a settlement offer
- Present a strong argument on your behalf at trial
Our firm represents clients based on contingent fees. We use our financial resources to investigate your case and file a suit, and you will not need to pay any upfront fees. Rather, we receive attorney’s fees from the settlement or court award we secure in your case. In other words, we only get paid if you do.
What Is Elmiron, and How does It Cause Macular Degeneration?
Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is a prescription medication that treats certain bladder conditions, including interstitial cystitis (IC). However, numerous studies and reports from consumers also link the drug to a rare type of macular degeneration: pigmentary maculopathy.
Over the last few years, several studies have found connections between those who use this medication and the diagnosis of this relatively rare condition that affects vision:
- A November 2018 study published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) linked long-term use of the medication with vision loss.
- An April 2019 article published in The Journal of Urology associated ongoing Elmiron use with a “potentially avoidable retinal degeneration phenomenon.”
Updates to the Elmiron Warning Label
Following these studies and numerous reports of related concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the drug manufacturer to alter the warning label and other documents to include the risk. The FDA approved these changes on June 6, 2020. Also, the medication now carries a warning of possible “retinal pigmentary changes” and “pigmentary maculopathy.”
The label and package insert also note that: “although most of these cases occurred after three years of use or longer, cases have been seen with a shorter duration of use.” The associated symptoms listed include:
- Difficulty reading
- Slow adjustment to low or reduced light environments
- Blurred vision
Other possible symptoms could include:
- Eye pain
- Vision disturbances
- Distorted vision
- Vision loss
If you took this medication and have any of these symptoms, you may need an eye exam to rule out this or other related conditions. If you already have a pigmentary maculopathy or macular degeneration diagnosis, you may qualify to join MDL 2973 or take further legal action to pursue damages.
How Soon do I Need to File Suit to Join MDL 2973?
MDL 2973, multidistrict litigation against Elmiron manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals—a member of The Johnson & Johnson family—is currently underway in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey as of August 2021. Honorable Judge Brian Martinotti is overseeing these cases.
Multidistrict litigation groups the cases together under one judge for pretrial motions, discovery, and the initial trials. These first trials are known as bellwethers. While their outcomes do not affect the other lawsuits directly, they often push the defendant to make settlement offers or encourage plaintiffs to drop their case, depending on the verdict.
According to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the first bellwether trial in MDL 2973 will begin around January 2023, with subsequent trials quickly following. This means you have some time to meet with our team and decide what you want to do.
Speak with Our Team About Your Diagnosis Today for Free
If you took Elmiron for IC and later developed macular degeneration, we will discuss your case and legal options with you today for free. We provide free consultations to help you and your family understand your rights and the injuries this pharmaceutical company caused.
Call Anastopoulo Law Firm now at (800) 777-7777 to speak with a team member about your potential case.
