GlaxoSmithKline is facing a number of lawsuits related to the anti-nausea drug Zofran and its purported effects on unborn children. Many of these lawsuits assert that the pharmaceutical enterprise was fully aware that prescribing Zofran to pregnant women could result in birth defects, and yet did nothing to prevent it.
A lawsuit by plaintiff Cheri Flynn of Pennsylvania asserts, much like a lawsuit filed against GSK by the U.S. Department of Justice, that GSK has possessed evidence of birth defects caused by Zofran since 1992, nearly 23 years ago.
Evidence of Birth Defects Hidden by GSK
According to the lawsuit, GSK conducted animal studies that showed clear evidence of malformations in animal offspring as well as evidence of intrauterine death. These studies proved that the drug was able to cross the placental barrier and cause damage to fetuses.
By the year 2000, GSK reportedly received at least 32 reports of birth defects in children exposed to Zofran during the mothers’ pregnancies. That number has shot up to over 200 since.
Despite all of this evidence, GSK never bothered to warn women about the risks of taking Zofran while pregnant. In fact, a previous lawsuit against the company asserted that the company actually promoted the off-label use of the drug and provided kickbacks to doctors in exchange for prescribing the drug to pregnant women suffering from nausea and morning sickness.
If your child has suffered birth defects due to Zofran exposure in the womb, it is imperative that you speak with a birth injury attorney.
Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Law Firm
