Valsartan and Liver Cancer: Are You at Risk?

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a “detection of impurity” in many valsartan-based products, the federal agency recalled Valsartan, an antihypertensive drug used to manage high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Because the leading cause of death in the US is heart disease and many doctors prescribe valsartan-based products to treat it, many Americans are now considering a valsartan recall lawsuit. If you find yourself wondering if you are at risk of valsartan liver cancer, it is worth reaching out to the US product liability lawyers at Carabin Shaw today.

In the wake of FDA valsartan recall, doctors, lawyers, and patients alike are asking Americans with a connection to valsartan and liver cancer, “Are you at risk?” Even though almost nobody disputes valsartan’s benefits for heart health, researchers recently found traces of a carcinogenic impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in some medications that include valsartan. The FDA reports that “the presence of NDMA was unexpected” and likely connected to issues with overseas manufacturers—specifically at pharmaceutical companies in China. As a result of the NDMA impurity, the FDA officially declared a recall on some valsartan products in 2018.

The US lawyers at Carabin Shaw know that the severity of a patient’s NDMA contamination risk for valsartan cancer in the US depends on three things:

1. Why doctors prescribed the medication: If a doctor was using valsartan to treat a more severe or prolonged condition, he or she likely prescribed valsartan in higher doses.

2. How high the patient’s dose is: The higher the dose, the greater the patient’s exposure to cancer-causing NDMA and the stronger the correlation to valsartan and liver function concerns.

3. Where the medication was produced: FDA researchers have not found NDMA in every valsartan product. As of November 2018, the latest FDA recall of valsartan includes only the following businesses and repackaging labels:

• Major Pharmaceuticals
• Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited
• Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries
• Actavis
• AvKARE
• Bryant Ranch Prepack
• A-S Medication Solutions LLC
• Northwind Pharmaceuticals
• Prinston Pharmaceuticals/Solco Healthcare LLC
• H.J. Harkins Company Inc.
• Pharma Pac
• Hetero Labs Inc. labeled as Camber Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Preferred Pharmaceuticals
• Remedy Repack Inc.
• NuCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Citizens in the US should know that there is a clear connection between valsartan and liver cancer, and you may be at risk if you used valsartan after 2014 for at least six months before a doctor diagnosed you with cancer. While you should pose all medical-related questions about valsartan liver damage to your doctor, the US product liability lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help you manage your legal concerns. Our team knows that proceeding with medical-related cases is daunting, and we pledge to use our years of experience to support any patient who has been adversely affected by valsartan.

Cases involving the valsartan recall by the FDA are not easy to navigate on your own, but the US attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to help you make sense of the ins and outs of your lawsuit and seek compensation on your behalf for your medical expenses, lost time at work, and pain and suffering.

There is a link between valsartan and liver cancer. Are you at risk? To find out, call your physician to determine which version of the drug he or she prescribed. Then, if necessary, give our office a call. At Carabin Shaw, we are dedicated to helping US patients impacted by valsartan. We understand the difficult position you are in, and we are here to help you. Allow to stand by your side and use our over 20 years of expertise to secure justice.

To speak with one of our US lawyers today, call Carabin Shaw toll-free at 800-862-1260. Your initial consultation with us is free and comes with no obligation on your part, and we won’t charge you unless we win your case. We are standing by, ready to support you.