Benicar Drugmaker Proposes Settlement

In early August, Daiichi Sankyo, the manufacturer of the blood pressure medication Benicar, agreed to pay $300 million to settle approximately 2,300 pending lawsuits alleging that the drugmaker failed to warn that taking the drug could lead to gastrointestinal problems, including sprue-like enteropathy.

If you have suffered severe side effects after taking this drug, you should contact our dangerous drug lawyers to learn about your options for filing a Benicar lawsuit. You have until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 23 to obtain a lawyer and file a claim. If you have already filed a claim, you have until Sept. 15 to opt in to the settlement to obtain compensation.

Our attorneys can advise you of your options and help you file the appropriate paperwork.

The Specifics of the Settlement

In announcing the settlement, Daiichi Sankyo made clear that it has not admitted liability for patients’ injuries. It continues to argue that the claims are without merit. Nonetheless, the settlement allows the company to avoid a costly and time-consuming legal battle.

The first Benicar lawsuits have been pending since 2014 and include Benicar’s sister drugs, Benicar HCT, Azor and Tribenzor. Most of the cases were consolidated in a multidistrict litigation in a New Jersey federal court.

If 95 percent of the plaintiffs agree to the settlement, or opt in, then the agreement will be finalized. The fund is capped at $300 million, but may vary depending on how many people participate.*

Dangerous Benicar Side Effects

Benicar is a blood pressure medication that helps users control high blood pressure. However, this dangerous drug has been linked to several serious side effects, including:

Benicar can also cause gastrointestinal illnesses that may result in diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea.

In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) learned of the link between Benicar and sprue-like enteropathy, which is a condition that mimics celiac disease and can result in long-term problems with malabsorption, or not being able to absorb the vitamins and nutrients from food.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Mayo Clinic, prompted the FDA to require the drug’s label be updated to include this dangerous side effect.

Injured patients allege that the drugmaker did not adequately warn consumers about the dangerous side effects of Benicar and that the company misrepresented the drug’s overall safety.

Getting Legal Help for Your Benicar Claim

Those involved in the settlement should receive an informational packet about how to “opt in” to receive their compensation.

However, even if you have not begun your Benicar case, this settlement does not cut off your rights to file a claim. Instead, you should contact a personal injury lawyer from our legal team to discuss your legal options if you have experienced adverse side effects following taking Benicar or any of its sister drugs.

Schedule a free consultation today. We work only on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not charge upfront fees for our services. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Call (800) 518-0508 today.