Federal Consolidation of Lawsuits Against Hair Loss Drug Propecia (Finasteride)
Although it’s been proven safe and effective for treating male pattern baldness in several research trials, many hair loss sufferers still insist that the hair restoration drug Propecia (finasteride) causes irreversible sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, these same individuals claim Merck Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Propecia, failed to adequately warn patients about the potential long-term sexual side effects associated with the drug.
As a result, over 51 different class action lawsuits have been filed against Merck Pharmaceuticals within the past several years. Although all cases focus on the allegedly permanent sexual side effects, each differs slightly and was scheduled for a unique day in court. However, Merck Pharmaceuticals recently altered the legal situation by deciding these individual complaints should be consolidated into one lawsuit and evaluated during a single proceeding.
Because 41 of the 53 complaints have been filed in New Jersey, Merck recommends the single trial take place in a New Jersey courtroom. A hearing, to determine whether the consolidation will occur, is scheduled to take place on March 29th, 2012 in San Diego, California.
Legal experts claim the consolidated proceeding would help prevent contradictory decisions and unnecessary pretrial rulings.
In an interesting turn, the official Propecia website is “down” and contains the following message: Thank you for visiting propecia.com, this website is currently not available; You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
While it’s uncertain whether the website content is related to the current lawsuits, many hair loss patients cannot ignore the coincidental timing.
We will update as details unfold.
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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: male pattern baldness, hair loss sufferers, hair restoration, Propecia, finasteride, sexual dysfunction
October 4, 2015 @ 1:18 pm
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer as a result of taking the drug Propecia, now is the time to assert your rights. Contact an experienced Propecia lawyer now to find out your legal rights.
November 11, 2014 @ 7:49 pm
Recent law suits on propecia, regarding the side effects. FDA has been considering these law suits seriously. It may advice the drug manufacturers to improve drug.
May 10, 2012 @ 2:19 pm
A drug is a drug! ALL drugs have multiple side effects. OMG This is well known. So now they are suing to the great delight of lawyers who stand to make millions while their clients are limp and crimp males!
When my hair transplant Dr.asked me if I wanted to take Propecia I quickly said NO!A no minder!I knew it had undesirable side effects so why take a chance?
I would never take Propecia tm as it is a ‘drug’ and it’s chemical nature reacts in the body causing ‘side effects'(it is not natural it’s foreign to our bodies-it is man made or contrived to get a patent $$$-over 100,000 died last year from taking pharma drugs-that’s well over one million in the last ten years in the US alone-Yale Med School stats!!!)which in some cases can be permenant.