Baycol Claims Settled >
Baycol Cases
Baycol:
Baycol Cases Settled
In 2003, there
have been a number of Baycol claims settled in the U.S. - These
settlements have been involving injuries related to a condition called
rhabdomyolysis, which the patients developed after taking the drug.
Baycol is a prescription
drug manufactured by Bayer A.G. Pharmaceutical. Baycol (cerivastatin)
was initially approved in the U.S. in 1997 to treat patients with
elevated cholesterol levels. Baycol belongs to the family of drugs
reffered to as statins: Statins lower cholesterol by blocking a specific
enzyme in the body that is involved in the sythesis of cholesterol.
Baycol was recalled
on August 8, 2001 following the deaths of 31 patients taking the drug
in the U.S. Fifty-two deaths had been reported worldwide. The deaths
had been caused by rhabdomyolysis, a muscle condition/ailment that
had been known to be a possible side effect of all statin drugs, however,
its incidence has been much higher and more serious among Baycol patients.
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition where the muscle cells are damaged,
thus releasing a pigment called myoglobin into the bloodstream. The
myoglobin becomes entrapped in the kidneys, clogging up the filtering
process of the kidneys, leading to kidney or renal failure and other
organ system disorders. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include muscle
pain, weakness, tenderness, malaise, fever, dark urine, nausea, and
vomiting. The pain may involve specific groups of muscles or may be
generalized throughout the body.
In August 2003
Bayer AG reported that more than 9,400 lawsuits involving Baycol have
been filed against the company, of which approximately 1,042 have
been settled out of court. This total number of Baycol cases includes
both individual Baycol injury claims and Baycol death claims as well
as numerous different types of Baycol class actions.
Here is a Reuters article with the details:
Following is an
Associated Press article from March 10, 2004:
Bayer
Reaches Deal On Cholesterol Drug
03/10/04 - German
drug maker Bayer AG has reached an agreement with most of its insurers
on coverage of around $1.2 billion for litigation related to the
2001 withdrawal of a cholesterol-lowering drug.
In a statement
Tuesday night, Bayer also said it had put aside 300 million euros
($369 million) in its 2003 fiscal year to cover additional settlements
and defense costs. The insurers "had previously proceeded only
on a provisional basis," the company said.
Bayer pulled
Lipobay, marketed as Baycol in the United States, in August 2001
after it was linked to a rare muscle-wasting syndrome and about
100 patient deaths.
On Tuesday,
the Leverkusen-based company said it has now reached 2,224 cases
related to the drug, paying out $842 million without admitting liability.
Another 9,948
cases were pending in the United States as of March 5, Bayer said.
"Where
facts have been developed in the course of the litigation, it so
far appears that the vast majority of plaintiffs did not suffer
serious side-effects," its statement said.
ref:
Julie Kay, "A Sudden Rush to Settle Suits Over Baycol" Miami
Daily Business Review - 2-26-2003
If you have an
interest in the Baycol cases, it is much to your advantage to contact
an attorney who advertises having experience and knowledge in Baycol
litigation. The circumstances of each person's use of the drug will
differ, and will determine the course of action particular to the
individual case. There are various lawyers devoted to these cases
and most offer services on a no-win no-fee basis. This is an important
factor to ascertain when contacting a Baycol lawyer.
