WHO'S TO BLAME?

Who's to blame for the injuries and deaths caused by Seroquel? In short, the drug company is to blame.

• AstraZeneca failed to conduct adequate testing prior to releasing Seroquel and after it was on the market
• AstraZeneca & the FDA knew about Seroquel's life-threatening side effects for years before warning anyone
• AstraZeneca concealed the true risks of Seroquel and misled doctors & the public for years
• AstraZeneca unlawfully promoted the off-label use of Seroquel to increase sales

SEROQUEL WAS NOT ADEQUATELY TESTED

AstraZeneca had the obligation to thoroughly test Seroquel before putting it on the market. Before and during the development of Seroquel, there was reason to believe that Seroquel and other atypical antipsychotics would cause diabetic-related diseases.

Medical literature dating as far back as the 1950s demonstrated how antipsychotic drugs caused significant weight gain and hyperglycemia.

Further, the testing does not stop when the drug is approved. Drug companies are required to conduct post-marketing research and must closely monitor the patients' reactions to the medication. AstraZeneca did not adequately test or monitor Seroquel once it was on the market. Instead, they focused their efforts on aggressive marketing of the drug to increase their sales, while ignoring the fact that patients on Seroquel were suffering from life-threatening side effects.

If you or someone you know has suffered from serious Seroquel side effects, contact our firm for a free case review by our experienced pharmaceutical attorneys.

FAILURE TO WARN

AstraZeneca knew about Seroquel's life-threatening side effects

Shortly after Seroquel went on the market in 1997, the FDA starting receiving reports of patients suffering from diabetes-related illnesses and conditions.

Beginning in 1998, scientific journals began to publish studies that showed a causal link between Zyprexa (a similar antipsychotic) and diabetes and diabetes-related illnesses.

In July 2002, a study conducted at Duke University established a relationship between Zyprexa (a comparable antipsychotic) and diabetes, documenting nearly 300 cases of diabetes among Zyprexa patients.

Studies conducted in Europe and Japan revealed a higher incidence of diabetes and related illnesses among Seroquel users. The British and Japanese regulatory agencies issued alerts and ordered AstraZeneca to add clear strong warnings to the Seroquel label, which they did in 2002.

AstraZeneca and the FDA waited for years before warning the public

In the U.S., the public was kept in the dark until AstraZeneca added the diabetes warning in 2004 and the warning for elderly dementia patients in 2005. That's after years of research and reports of patient illnesses and deaths.

The FDA has been criticized for failing to provide adequate information on Seroquel to U.S. doctors and patients. Unlike other countries, the FDA has not required that Seroquel labeling provide black box warnings on the diabetes risks. Years after becoming aware of the risks, the FDA only ordered a regular warning, rather than the stronger "black box" warning.

UNLAWFUL MARKETING & PROMOTION

Even after AstraZeneca knew about the serious side effects caused by Seroquel, they continued to conceal this information from doctors and the public. They misrepresented the true risks involved in order to increase their profits from Seroquel sales.

AstraZeneca is also accused of promoting Seroquel for off-label uses, i.e., for dementia and depression, in order to increase their sales. When the FDA approves a drug, it specifies exactly what the drug can be used for. Any other use is referred to as "off-label use." A doctor can legally prescribe drugs for off-label uses. But a drug company is only allowed to market and promote its drugs for FDA-approved uses.

It is also alleged that AstraZeneca unfairly offered incentives to doctors and other healthcare workers in an effort to increase the number of Seroquel prescriptions written, and thereby increase sales.

AstraZeneca's deceptive marketing of Seroquel has caused innocent patients world-wide to take on life-threatening risks that they were unaware of. As a result, many of them are now being diagnosed with diabetes and diabetes-related illnesses and many families are grieving the death of a family member.

Our law firm represents people across the country who have been injured as a result of AstraZeneca's indifference to patient safety. If you or someone you know has suffered serious Seroquel injuries, contact our offices for a free case review by our experienced pharmaceutical attorneys.