FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Verdict In - Paxil "Clear Teratogen":
In December of 2005, at the insistence of the FDA, GlaxoSmithKline reclassified the pregnancy rating of its blockbuster drug Paxil to Category D, which means there is "positive evidence of human fetal risk" and the drug "can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman." Despite this categorization, in numerous lawsuits across the country, the company has continued to deny that Paxil causes birth defects.
Hopefully that issue has now been laid to rest by a jury verdict in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rejecting the testimony of GSK's numerous experts, and the arguments of its counsel, the jury in Kilker v. GSK found that Paxil did cause a young boy's cardiac defects. The jury awarded the boy $2.5 million.
The evidence in the case included a May 2009 paper, published by scientists from another pharmaceutical company, finding that Paxil is a "clear teratogen" and a January 2009 article from scientists at Yale in the ACOG Journal listing it as such. Significantly, it included two charts from GSK's own website, http://www.gsk-clinicalstudyregister.com/files/pdf/24089.pdf, showing the results of its own internal "meta-analysis" of the existing epidemiological evidence on point. These charts show a statistically significant elevated risk for both (a) all congenital defects, and (b) cardiac defects. The plaintiffs were lead by an excellent team of lawyers, headed by Sean Tracey of Houston, Texas.
The JusticeSeekers are representing several clients with similar claims and our next case is set for trial in January 2010.
© JusticeSeekers.com October 15, 2009
