Amanda Antell  |  March 19, 2014

Category: Legal News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

generic Lipitor side effectsIndian pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy recalled more than 64,000 bottles of generic Lipitor in the United States due to the possibility of dosing error.

The company reported that its generic variation of Lipitor may have a higher dosage of atorvastatin calcium, brand-name Lipitor’s main ingredient, which could lead to devastating results for patients.

In a public statement, Ranbaxy apologized to the public for the inconvenience, and stated that the recall had started in mid-January. Ranbaxy is known for making ingredients used in drugs popularly used to treat cancer and skin problems, as well as gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular disorders.  The company has met great success in the United States, with generic Lipitor generating 36% of its sales, the company said in December.

However, as of last month Ranbaxy suspended shipments of these pharmaceutical ingredients from two plants after scrutiny over manufacturing processes.  The suspension affected supplies to other key markets including Europe and India. According to reports from India, Ranbaxy’s marketing got hit hardest in Mumbai after word of the American recall got out.

Ranbaxy is the largest pharmaceutical company in India, and is primarily owned by Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo.  Sankyo confirmed that the recall of select batches of the drug were being conducted, but stated that Ranbaxy had yet to receive any product complaints.  Unfortunately for Sankyo and Ranbaxy, this is not the first time the pharmaceutical company has been under fire for manufacturing practices.  Ranbaxy conducted an earlier recall in 2012, after it was reported that glass was found in the company’s generic Lipitor bottles.

In the past several years, the FDA has made its standards known to Indian companies, due to the growing dependency on international outsourcing.  Generic drug companies in India, including Ranbaxy, produce nearly 40% of generic drugs and over-the-counter products, as well as 10% of finished dosages used in the United States.

According to the FDA, the recall of Ranbaxy’s generic Lipitor is classified as a Class II recall, which means that there is a remote chance of severe side effects, or death, due to the product’s manufacturing process.

Overview of Lipitor Complications

In light of the Ranbaxy recall, FDA officials announced that they plan to tighten regulations on the generic drug industry to prevent similar instances to this.  Generic drugs make up almost 80% of the medicine used in the United States, and helped Americans save $193 billion in 2011, as healthcare costs continue to rise.  Generic drugs use the same main component as brand-name drugs, but are often comprised of other ingredients, and contain significantly less of the main ingredient.  The opposite was the case of Ranbaxy’s Lipitor, as it contained 10 miligrams more than the brand-name dosage.

Any dosage discrepancies can lead to serious health consequences for the patient, and legal action against the company. For Lipitor, it is especially important because it is the best-selling drug in pharmaceutical history, and continues to be a top-seller in the world.  Unfortunately, brand-name Lipitor is facing its own problems, as experts assert that this drug causes type-2 diabetes in postmenopausal women.

In general, Lipitor lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

Learn More

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.


Get Help – It’s Free

Join a Free Lipitor Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you’re a woman who was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes while taking Lipitor, or were diagnosed with diabetes within 90 days or less of your last dose of Lipitor, you may be eligible for compensation. See if you qualify by filling out the short form below.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

 

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.