Novartis Leukemia Drug Lawsuits Head for Florida Courtroom

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. will face combined litigation over its chronic myeloid leukemia drug Tasigna in the Middle District of Florida, according to a Tuesday order from the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

Plaintiffs allege the drugmaker failed to warn the U.S. medical community that Tasigna, an oral chemotherapy drug, causes narrowing and hardening of arteries delivering blood to the arms, legs, heart, and brain.

Allen Garland, who sought to combine the suits, alleges he developed severe peripheral arterial disease because of the drug and needed a below-the-knee amputation.

Novartis opposed centralization generally, but favored the Middle District of Florida ...