In the first week of the new year, a drug manufacturer issued yet another recall for a diabetes medication because of the cancer risk.
As International Business Times reported, Nostrum Laboratories recalled a lot of its diabetes drug Metformin; specifically, the Metformin HCl Extended Release Tablets with a 750 mg dosage. The drug was found to have Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) impurities – a probable human carcinogen – above the acceptable daily intake limit of 96 nanograms.
The Metformin medication is distributed in the form of off-white, oblong tablets that are debossed with "NM5" or "NM7." Patients who have this medication in their possession are urged to contact their doctors right away. They should work with their doctors to create an alternate treatment plan.
This is the latest in a string of recalls by Nostrum and other manufacturers over the past six months. It comes on the heels of recalls of other medications due to NDMA contamination in 2019. Yet again, drug manufacturers are putting patients at risk in the name of profit.
How liability works in dangerous drug cases
Manufacturers in general are held legally responsible for the safety of their products. Manufacturers of medications and medical devices are held to particularly high standards because their products are put in peoples' bodies. Nevertheless, every year, we learn of more and more dangerous medications. Sometimes, the cause of the danger is inadequate testing. The manufacturer could be aware of a risk but choose not to warn patients and doctors of the danger. In other cases, shoddy manufacturing and poor quality control lead to dangerous impurities in a medication.
If a manufacturer becomes aware of a danger associated with a medication, they should immediately recall it, investigate what happened, and start the process of mitigating the damage as quickly as possible. In practice, they tend not to act until their hand is forced.
Holding manufacturers accountable is an uphill battle
The pharmaceutical industry pours a lot of resources into protecting its bottom line against lawsuits from patients injured by dangerous drugs. They have entire teams of highly paid attorneys looking for every possible excuse or mitigating factor to avoid paying up. When they avoid accountability, patients suffer. That's where we come in.
Our attorneys at Tracey Fox King & Walters have the experience, resources, and winning track record needed to get results. If you've been injured or become ill due to a dangerous drug, we would be glad to speak with you as soon as possible. Contact us to discuss your legal rights and options. Our law offices are located in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas. We offer free and confidential case evaluations.