Tasigna Atherosclerosis Lawsuit News

Novartis Held Accountable For Concealing Tasigna Atherosclerosis Risk

The deceptive practices of Novartis AG have not escaped government regulators in the United States

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - Anti-cancer chemotherapy drug Tasigna was originally approved by the FDA in 2007 for use in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) positive myeloid leukemia (CML). Tasigna is the trade name given to nilotinib, manufactured by Novartis AG. The drug is made from hydrochloride monohydrate salt a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocks the enzymes that activate certain proteins that are necessary and common to cancer cells. By blocking the addition of a phosphate to the protein, cell reproduction in disrupted. Tasigna has shown to be extremely effective in treating CML however the drug carries a unique and life-threatening side effect.

Tasigna Causes Atherosclerosis

Tasigna patients are reporting that they have developed full-blown atherosclerosis and have experienced necrosis of the lower extremities, paralysis from strokes, and sudden death from heart attack. Many patients question whether the risks of Tasigna are worth the benefits and cancer patients need to know their alternatives. Tasigna atherosclerosis victims are hiring a Tasigna atherosclerosis lawyer and filing a personal injury or a wrongful death claim against Novartis alleging the company knew of the atherosclerosis risks, reported them to Canadian health officials, but did nothing to warn the medical community or cancer patients taking Tasigna in the United States.

On April 12, 2013, Health Canada reported "important safety information regarding reports of atherosclerosis-related conditions in patients treated with TASIGNA* (nilotinib)," that was disclosed to them by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada. The report "Cases of atherosclerosis-related conditions have been reported during clinical trials and post-marketing experience with the use of TASIGNA*." Canadian cancer physicians were immediately notified of the findings and were told to pre-screen patients for signs of heart disease of blood abnormalities by having them undergo blood tests and an electrocardiogram prior to initiating Tasigna treatments and to avoid Tasigna if a patient showed signs of heart disease. Physicians were urged to test existing and post Tasigna treatment patients for signs of heart disease as well. Between 2005 and 2013 a total of 277 cases of Tasigna atherosclerosis were reported.

The Novartis/Health Canada report describes Tasigna as causing "peripheral arterial occlusive disease (hardening and narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs), femoral artery stenosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries located in the upper thigh), coronary artery stenosis (narrowing or hardening of the arteries supplying the heart that causes angina (chest pain), carotid artery stenosis (narrowing or hardening of the carotid artery in the neck), and cerebrovascular accident (stroke)." Source: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2013/26659a-eng.php

It is not difficult to understand the motivation behind Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis' failure to explicitly warn the US medical community of the life-threating side effects of Tasigna. Global sales of Tasigna topped $1.6 billion in 2016, the largest percentage of which coming from the lucrative US market. Novartis profited from US Tasigna sales for years until their deception caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice. The agency sued Novartis and levied a fine of $1 billion dollars against Novartis, settling for a payment of $390 million. Novartis admitted to paying illegal kickbacks to specialty pharmacies to recommend Tasigna over competing brands, misbranding the drug, falsely advertising, and willfully concealing their knowledge of the Tasigna atherosclerosis risk since 2011 from American doctors and cancer patients.

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Lawyers for Tasigna Atherosclerosis Lawsuits

Attorneys handling Tasigna lawsuits for leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma offer free, no-obligation case review for individuals and families who believe they may have grounds to file a Tasigna lawsuit. Working on a contingency basis, these attorneys are committed to never charging legal fees unless they win compensation in your Tasigna lawsuit. The product liability litigators handling Roundup claims at the Onder Law Firm have a strong track record of success in representing families harmed by dangerous drugs and consumer products.