FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tysabri PML Lawsuits – Willis Law Firm Representing Families of Two Tysabri PML Patients

Houston, Texas – December 20, 2010 – The Willis Law Firm, currently representing two of the fewer than seventy-five known cases of Tysabri induced PML worldwide, is accepting new Tysabri PML clients and lawsuits.

According to the FDA, Tysabri (also known as natalizumab), a drug prescribed in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Crohn’s disease, has been linked to the increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).  PML is a very rare and opportunistic viral infection of the brain that usually leads to severe disability and/or death. Tysabri was pulled from the market over safety concerns in 2005 but returned a year later in 2006.

Current Willis Law Firm Tysabri PML clients include:

• 36 year old female multiple sclerosis patient who had been infused with Tysabri 24 times over a period of two years.  She was diagnosed with PML in 2009 and is now under 24 hour care and has lost the ability to communicate.  She was a member of the Tysabri “Touch Program” and is listed as only the 7^th Tysabri PML case in the world and only the 2^nd in the U.S. 
• Family of a deceased 40 year old multiple sclerosis patient and mother of two.  According to medical records, the patient’s MS symptoms were under control at the time she was prescribed Tysabri.  Following only her second Tysabri infusion, she experienced a sudden onset of PML-like symptoms, suffered a rapid decline in health, and eventually died within 30 days of the Tysabri infusion.  Our firm’s medical consultants believe this is suggestive of a possible Tysabri PML link.

In a letter dated March 25, 2010, the US FDA notified the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Biogen Idec, Inc., the manufacturer of Tysabri, that Biogen’s promotion of Tysabri contained “false or misleading” information. The letter went on to state that Biogen’s promotional information regarding Tysabri “minimizes important risks associated with the use of Tysabri and omits the drug’s approved indication.”

Biogen has ceased sharing information with the public on their corporate website regarding any new PML cases.  This was announced after the 11^th documented PML patient, back in March of 2009.  Biogen currently states that “any new cases will be reported by word of mouth to medical professional and patient groups”.

Patients and/or family members of those treated with Tysabri infusions and then later diagnosed with PML are encouraged to contact The Willis Law Firm to speak to a Tysabri PML lawyer about their legal options regarding the possible filing of a Tysabri PML Lawsuit.  Please keep in mind that certain states have statutes of limitation which limit the amount of time a person may have to file a lawsuit or seek legal action. All cases are taken on a Contingency Fee Basis. No fees or expenses are charged to the client unless a recovery is made, or settlement obtained for the Tysabri PML patients and their families.

“The expertise that our firm has gained in the assistance of our current group of Tysabri PML clients and their families has given us the unique perspective required to help these victims and pursue this rare and complex type of case”, stated  David P. Willis, principal attorney at The Willis Law Firm.

The Willis Law Firm, a Nationally Recognized Drug Litigation Law Firm, is dedicated to fighting for the rights of those harmed by dangerous and recalled drugs and medical devices.  For 25+ years, Attorney David P. Willis, a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, has represented seriously injured clients and their families in product liability, personal injury, and defective drug litigation lawsuits involving pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Mr. Willis is licensed in Texas and New York and assists victims of defective products and dangerous drugs nationwide. For more information, call The Willis Law Firm toll free at: 1-800-883-9858 or visit www.Tysabri-PML.com

Contact:

David P. Willis
press@injuryoffices.com
1221 McKinney Street
Suite 3333
Houston, Texas 77010
USA

Ph: 800-883-9858
www.drug-attorneys.com

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Children born with cardiac and other congenital birth defects have possibly been linked to use of the anti-depressant drug bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban) during pregnancy, based on findings published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The study found that mothers of infants born with a specific type of congenital heart defect were more likely to have reported taking Wellbutrin (bupropion) than mothers of control infants. They identified a positive association between early pregnancy bupropion use and congenital heart defects.

Antidepressant Drugs Include:

What is Welbutrin (bupropion)?

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an antidepressant of the aminoketone class. Bupropion is also marketed as Zyban for use as a smoking cessation aid. Most antidepressants available by prescription are of the SSRI class, so Wellbutrin may be effective if common SSRI antidepressants fail to combat major depression symptoms. Wellbutrin may, in some cases, also be taken concurrently with SSRI antidepressants.

In 1985, SmithKline Beecham (now Glaxo SmithKline) introduced bupropion hydrochloride under the brand name Wellbutrin. When Wellbutrin was first introduced onto the market, a high rate of seizures in users caused it to be recalled fairly quickly. In 1996, the FDA approved the drug in a sustained-release version called Wellbutrin SR and, in 2003, an extended-release version called Wellbutrin XL. Bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban) has been prescribed to treat depression and in some cases has been prescribed to assist in smoking cessation treatment. Bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) is also prescribed to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD; episodes of depression that occur in the fall and winter each year). Bupropion is in a class of medications called antidepressants, and works by increasing certain types of activity in the brain.

Wellbutrin Birth Defects

The most common heart defects found involving Wellbutrin (bupropion) were left outflow tract defects. Left outflow heart defects affect the flow of blood from the heart’s left chambers to the rest of the body. The most common type of left outflow tract heart defect was coarctation of the aorta (CoA) — a narrowing in the body’s main artery. In another recent study, researchers also found that among more than 12,700 U.S. infants born between 1997 and 2004, those whose mothers used Wellbutrin (bupropion) during early pregnancy had more than double the risk of these same heart defects. If you have a child suffering from congenital heart defects or other severe congenital malformations and you were prescribed Wellbutrin during pregnancy, you may have a cause of action against Glaxo SmithKline, the creator of Welbutrin.

For years, antidepressant drugs like Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil have been linked to cases of serious congenital heart defects, which may include atrial septal defects (ASD – Hole in the Heart), ventricular septal defects (VSD – Hole in the Heart), tetrology of fallot (ToF), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), transposition of the great arteries (TGA or TOGA), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), and coarctation of the aorta (CoA). In many cases, surgery is required when a child is an infant or toddler and then again, potentially multiple times, as the child grows to maturity. Many congenital heart defects are treatable when they are diagnosed and addressed early. Children may be able to lead mostly normal and productive lives following medical attention. However, in some cases the only viable option to preserve the child’s life and correct these severe heart defects involves a heart transplant.

Wellbutrin Class Action Lawsuit vs. Wellbutrin Lawsuit

There are distinct differences between a Wellbutrin (bupropion) class action lawsuit and a more typical individual Wellbutrin lawsuit. A Wellbutrin class action lawsuit would be a form of Wellbutrin lawsuit in which a large group of people (plaintiffs) would collectively bring a lawsuit to court in the form of a “class action” against the manufacturers of Wellbutrin (defendant). In a class action lawsuit involving personal injury resulting from defective products such as antidepressant drugs like Wellbutrin (bupropion), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine) and Celexa (citalopram), all Wellbutrin lawsuit plaintiffs would typically be grouped together into a single Wellbutrin class action lawsuit, regardless of the degree or severity of their birth defect injuries. In this type of Wellbutrin class action lawsuit, plaintiffs with injuries ranging from minor heart murmurs not requiring surgery, all the way to the most severe congenital heart defects, requiring multiple surgeries or a complete heart transplant, would be grouped into one single Wellbutrin class action lawsuit. All plaintiffs in the class would equally share any award or settlement resulting from the Wellbutrin class action lawsuit.

In Wellbutrin lawsuits involving catastrophic injury or death, an individual lawsuit, in most cases, is more appropriate and in the plaintiff’s best interest. Antidepressant drugs like Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft have been linked to severe congenital heart defects, including: atrial septal defects (ASD – hole in the heart), ventricular septal defects (VSD – hole in the heart), tetrology of fallot (ToF), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), transposition of the great arteries (TGA or TOGA), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), and coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Wellbutrin cases such as these are better suited to an individual Wellbutrin lawsuit because of the severity and degree of injury to the plaintiff. In an individual Wellbutrin Lawsuit, each plaintiff’s case is filed, presented and considered individually, based on its own strength and the degree of injury.

In many cases involving antidepressants like Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft and the serious congenital heart defects related to these antidepressant drugs, surgery is required. Heart surgery will typically be required when a child is an infant or toddler and then again, potentially multiple times, as the child grows to maturity. In many cases, with surgery and medical care, children may be able to lead mostly normal and productive lives. An individual Wellbutrin lawsuit allows each Wellbutrin victim, their injuries and their future needs to be considered on an individual basis when determining damages, awards and settlement amounts, and not as part of a class action lawsuit.

Speak to a Wellbutrin Lawsuit Lawyer

If your child was born with a severe birth defect and you were prescribed Wellbutrin during pregnancy, please contact our law firm immediately to discuss your legal rights to file a Wellbutrin Lawsuit and for information regarding a Wellbutrin Class Action Lawsuit. Please keep in mind that certain states have filing deadlines or statutes of limitation that limit the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit or seek legal action. Speak to a Wellbutrin lawyer if your child has been born with Coarctation of the Aorta, other congenital heart defects, required open heart surgery, or required a heart transplant to correct a Wellbutrin related congenital birth defect.

Wellbutrin Birth Defect Lawsuit

Our law firm has assisted thousands of clients over the past twenty-seven years and thoroughly understands pharmaceutical product-liability and drug litigation. You are not alone. Contact us today for a free and completely confidential Wellbutrin Side Effects lawsuit evaluation. Talk to a Wellbutrin Lawyer now about your rights. Please fill out our online form or call our law firm toll free at (800) 883-9858.

Children born with a heart defect, lung defect or other congenital birth defects have possibly been linked to use of the antidepressant drug Zoloft. Research suggests serious Zoloft side effects, including the increased risk of congenital heart defects and lung defects. This link between Zoloft and congenital heart defects and congenital lung defects has many concerned that pregnant women should not be prescribed Zoloft while pregnant. SSRIs like Zoloft have been linked to increased risk of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN).

Antidepressant Drugs Include:

What is Zoloft?

Zoloft (Generic: Sertraline) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Zoloft affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause symptoms. Zoloft is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The FDA approved Zoloft, manufactured by Pfizer, for depression in 1992, for OCD in 1996, for PMDD in 2002, and for SAD in 2003.

Zoloft Heart Defects

SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and Celexa have been linked to cases of serious congenital heart defects, which may include atrial septal defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD) a heart defect, tetrology of fallot (ToF) a heart defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) a heart defect, transposition of the great arteries (TGA or TOGA) a heart defect, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) a heart defect, total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) a heart defect, double outlet right ventricle (DORV) a heart defect, and coarctation of the aorta (CoA) a heart defect. In many heart defect cases, surgery is required when the child is very young (first three years of life) and then again, potentially multiple times, as the child grows to adulthood. Most congenital heart defect cases are treatable when they are diagnosed and addressed early on. Children with a heart defect may then be able to lead a mostly normal and productive life following medical attention. In some cases with a heart defect, the only viable option to correct these severe heart defects and preserve the child’s life involves a heart transplant.

In 2005, a Danish study indicated that pregnant women prescribed SSRI antidepressant medicines like Zoloft in early pregnancy may have increased risk of giving birth to infants with a congenital heart defect. In this study, infants exposed to SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil during the first 3 months of pregnancy had a 60 percent higher chance of developing congenital heart defects compared with infants whose mothers did not take Zoloft or other SSRI antidepressants.

It is also known is that there is a strong link between other SSRI antidepressants other than Zoloft and other congenital malformations, including lung, cranio-facial and abdominal wall malformations. A study conducted at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, revealed that the risk of pregnant women giving birth to babies with congenital defects, including heart defects and other defects, was increased among women who had prescriptions for SSRIs filled in the 30 days before conception through the end of the first trimester, compared with those who had no SSRI prescriptions filled during the same period.

The FDA has categorized Zoloft as a “Category C” drug, in terms of pregnancy risk, which means that animal studies may indicate fetal harm from maternal use of the drug. Human trials have not yet been conducted that determine that the risks of using Zoloft during pregnancy outweigh the drug’s intended benefits.

Women who are taking SSRI antidepressants, including Zoloft, and are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant should speak with their doctor about the risks of a heart defect associated with taking Zoloft or any other SSRI antidepressant while pregnant. There are risks associated with taking Zoloft while pregnant, and there may also be concerns about abruptly discontinuing Zoloft or other SSRI medications. All risks of a heart defect should be discussed with a physician and balanced against the possible benefits of taking Zoloft.

Congenital Heart Defects from Antidepressant SSRI Drugs:

• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
• Pulmonary Atresia
• Tricuspic Atresia
• Transposition of the Great Vessels
• Transposition of the Great Arteries
• Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the heart)
• Ventricular Septal Defect (hole in the heart)
• Coarctation of the Aorta
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Double Outlet Right Ventricle
• Truncus Arteriosus
• Double Inlet Left Ventricle
• Double Aortic Arch
• Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Tetralogy of Fallot

SSRI Antidepressant Congenital Birth Defects:

• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
• Omphalcele – Abdominal Wall Malformation
• Gastrochesis – Abdominal Wall Malformation
• Craniosynostosis – Cranio-facial Malformation
• Clubfoot – Limb Malformation
• Hypospadias

Zoloft Class Action Heart Defect Lawsuit vs. Individual Lawsuit

There are distinct differences between a Zoloft (sertraline) class action heart defect lawsuit and a more typical individual Zoloft heart defect lawsuit. A Zoloft class action heart defect lawsuit would be a form of Zoloft lawsuit in which a large group of people (Zoloft plaintiffs) collectively bring a Zoloft heart defect lawsuit to court in the form of a “class action” against the manufacturers of Zoloft (defendant). In a Zoloft class action heart defect lawsuit involving personal injury, resulting from defective products such as antidepressant SSRI drugs like Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine) and Celexa (citalopram), all Zoloft lawsuit plaintiffs would typically be grouped together into a single Zoloft class action lawsuit, regardless of the degree or severity of their Zoloft birth defect injuries. In this type of Zoloft class action lawsuit, Zoloft plaintiffs with injuries ranging from minor heart murmurs not requiring surgery, all the way to the most severe congenital Zoloft heart defects, requiring multiple surgeries or even a complete heart transplant, would be grouped into one single Zoloft class action lawsuit. All Zoloft plaintiffs in the class would equally share any award or settlement resulting from the Zoloft class action lawsuit.

In Zoloft lawsuits involving catastrophic injury or death, an individual Zoloft lawsuit, in most cases, is more appropriate and in the Zoloft plaintiff’s best interest. SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa and Paxil (paroxetine), have been linked to severe congenital heart defects, including: atrial septal defects (ASD – hole in the heart), ventricular septal defects (VSD – hole in the heart), tetrology of fallot (ToF), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), transposition of the great arteries (TGA or TOGA), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), double outlet right ventricle (DORV), and coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Zoloft cases such as these are better suited to an individual Zoloft lawsuit because of the severity and degree of injury to the Zoloft plaintiff. In an individual Zoloft Lawsuit, each Zoloft plaintiff’s case is filed, presented and considered individually, based on its own strength and degree of injury.

In many cases involving SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil and the serious congenital heart defects related to these SSRI antidepressants, heart defect surgery is required. Heart surgery will typically be required when a child is an infant or toddler and then again, potentially multiple times, as the child grows to maturity. In many cases, with surgery and medical care, children born with a heart defect may be able to lead mostly normal and productive lives. An individual Zoloft heart defect lawsuit allows each Zoloft victim, their heart defect injuries and their future needs to be considered on an individual basis when determining damages, awards and settlement amounts, and not as part of a Zoloft class action lawsuit.

See also: Zoloft Heart Defect Lawsuit

Zoloft Autism

A recent study published by Archives of General Psychiatry has found a link between antidepressant use during pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Pregnant women taking Zoloft antidepressants during the first trimester of pregnancy may triple the chances of their child having Zoloft autism. This study was prompted when researchers noticed a rise over the past few years in the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant (SSRIs) and an increase in Zoloft autism diagnoses.

Zoloft Autism Side Effects

• Autism from Zoloft
• ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
• PDD – Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• PDD – NOS – Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified

If you or a loved one took Zoloft while pregnant and have a child that may suffer Zoloft autism or other Zoloft birth defects, contact our law firm immediately to discuss the legal options available to you and your family.

See also: Autism Lawsuit: Antidepressants During Pregnancy Increase Autism Risk

Speak to a Zoloft Lawyer

If you took Zoloft or generic sertraline during pregnancy and your child was born with a heart birth defect or a lung birth defect, we encourage you to contact a Zoloft heart defect litigation attorney at our law firm immediately. It may be too late to recover from the devastating effects of Zoloft heart defects, but an experienced products liability Zoloft attorney at the Willis Law Firm can assist you in legal action against the makers of Zoloft. You are not alone. Join other Zoloft heart defect, Zoloft lung defect, and other Zoloft birth defect victims and their families in speaking up and fighting for your legal rights.

Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuit

Please fill out our free online legal evaluation form and we will contact you within 24 hours. Please keep in mind that certain states have statutes of limitation that limit the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit or seek legal action. Contact a Zoloft heart defect lawyer at our law firm immediately so we may explain the rights and options available to you and your family.