ABOUT SEROQUEL

• Seroquel is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic medication marketed as a new line of drugs with fewer side effects than older drugs. This later proved to be untrue
• AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals is a global multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company
• Seroquel is AstraZeneca's second biggest-selling product

WHAT IS SEROQUEL?

Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) is an oral medication approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is an antipsychotic medication, or neuroleptic, used to treat psychotic symptoms. Psychosis is a mental state primarily characterized by distorted thought processes and loss of contact with reality. Psychosis can be severely disturbing and can greatly impair a person’s ability to function in society. Psychotic symptoms, i.e., hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, may cause a person to become a danger to themselves and/or others. Antipsychotics work to decrease or eliminate such symptoms and to restore normal thought processes. Scientists are not sure exactly how antipsychotics work, but it is believed that they function by blocking dopamine nerve receptors in the brain.

Although Seroquel has only been approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, it is commonly prescribed to treat other conditions, such as dementia, ADHD, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Seroquel belongs to a class of medications called “atypical antipsychotics”.

ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS: A BRIEF HISTORY

The first antipsychotic medications, i.e. Thorazine, Haldol, and Trilafon, were introduced in the 1950s and had negative side effects, such as tremors and muscle stiffness (extra pyramidal symptoms or EPS), and abnormal movements (tardive dyskinesia or TD). This often made patients zombie-like and unable to function.

In the 1990s, "atypical antipsychotics" entered the market. This new type of drug was more effective and with fewer of the side effects of traditional antipsychotics.

The first such medicine, Clozaril (clozapine), by Novartis, was approved in 1989. It was more effective, but carried a risk of life-threatening side effects, namely agranulocytosis (decreased white blood cell count) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart). To monitor for this, Clozaril patients have to undergo weekly blood tests while they're on the medication. This makes it expensive and also difficult to administer due to the typical non-compliance of this patient population. So its use is limited.

The market was ripe for an antipsychotic medication with less negative side effects. The drug companies were in a race to get the first such "miracle drug" out on the market. You can see below how they finished the "race." The date represents FDA approval.

Janssen Pharmaceutica. Risperdal (risperidone). 1993.

Eli Lilly and Company. Zyprexa (olanzapine). 1996.

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate). 1997.

Pfizer. Geodon (ziprasidone). 2001.

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical. Abilify (aripiprazole). 2002.

These medications are referred to as second-generation atypical antipsychotics, as opposed to Clozaril which is a first-generation atypical antipsychotic. They cost about 10 times more than the older medications. Yet they found huge success on the market because they were seemingly effective with relatively few side effects.

However, after millions of patients took these drugs, it was discovered that they carried significant risks of severe and even life-threatening side effects.

Our law firm represents people who have become seriously ill as a result of taking Seroquel or Zyprexa. Complete our online submission form and we will review your case for free.

SEROQUEL SALES

Seroquel is AstraZeneca's second biggest-selling product, surpassed only by the heartburn medication Nexium. Seroquel sales are $1 billion dollars more per year than the third best-selling product, cholesterol drug Crestor. Seroquel is one of the 5 "key products" which provide the platform for AstraZeneca's growth and success.

Seroquel sales in 2006: $3.42 billion dollars

Seroquel sales in 2005: $2.76 billion dollars

Seroquel sales in 2004: $2.03 billion dollars

As you can see, the sales continue to rise despite the negative publicity regarding the life-threatening side effects of Seroquel. But that does not necessarily mean that more people are using Seroquel. The higher sales may be reflecting price increases rather than increased use of the drug.

THE DRUG COMPANY

Seroquel is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

Formed: April 1999 by merger of Astra, A.B. of Sweden & Zeneca Group, P.L.C. of the U.K.

Employees: Over 66,000 people worldwide

Corporate headquarters: London, U.K.

Research and development facilities: 16 sites in 8 countries

Manufacturing facilities: 27 sites in 19 countries

Marketing: AstraZeneca's drugs are marketed in over 100 countries

Total Sales: Sales in 2006 totaled $26.5 billion, with an operating profit of $8.2 billion.

The Law Firm of Howard L. Nations has the resources, experience and commitment required to achieve justice for people who have been injured by AstraZeneca's indifference to patient safety. If you or someone you know has been injured by Seroquel, contact us for a free case review by one of our pharmaceutical attorneys.