Nexium, Other Heartburn Drug Suits Sent to New Jersey

Suits alleging AstraZeneca’s Nexium, Takeda’s Prevacid, and other heartburn drugs caused kidney disease were sent to federal court in New Jersey (Proton-Pump Inhibitor Prod. Liab. Litig., in re, J.P.M.L., No. 2789, 8/2/17).

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation combined the suits Aug. 2 after having denied centralization in February.

The increase in the number of suits, coupled with most defendants’ new support of a central proceeding, warrants consolidation for pretrial matters this time around, the panel said.

Plaintiffs allege AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals L.P.'s Nexium and Prilosec, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.'s Prevacid, and over-the-counter drugs sold by Pfizer Inc. ...