The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring that labels of the multiple sclerosis treatment Lemtrada (generic: alemtuzumab) carry the strongest warning possible regarding an increased risk of stroke and blood vessel wall tears (arterial dissection).
Free Confidential Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been harmed by the side effects of Lemtrada, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
What is Lemtrada?
Manufactured and marketed by Sanofi-Aventis, Lemtrada is a multiple sclerosis therapy that works by binding to and killing immune cells (lymphocytes or white blood cells) which are involved when the immune system attacks myelin. It is believed that the immune cells which grow back after treatment do not cause nerve damage. Lemtrada was approved by the FDA in November 2014.
What’s the problem?
In a safety announcement issued on Nov. 29, 2018, FDA warned that “rare but serious cases of stroke and tears in the lining of arteries in the head and neck have occurred in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) shortly after they received Lemtrada (alemtuzumab).” As a result of these problems, the agency is requiring that labels of all alemtuzumab-containing medications carry a “black box” warning, the strongest warning FDA imposes. The drugs will also carry information about these risks in their prescribing information.
Lemtrada Side Effects
Serious side effects of Lemtrada include:
- Stroke
- Arterial dissection
- Tears in the lining of arteries in the head and neck
Common side effects include:
- Rash
- Headache
- Fever
- Nasal congestion
- Swelling of the nose or throat
- Nausea
- Urinary tract infection
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Herpes viral infection
- Fungal infection
- Hives or itching
- Thyroid gland disorders
- Pain in the joints, extremities, or back
- Diarrhea
- Sinusitis
- Sore mouth or throat
- Tingling feeling
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Flushing of the face, neck, or chest
Arterial Dissection Symptoms
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially if it occurs on only one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache or neck pain
About Class Action Lawsuits
Although we are a nationally recognized class action firm, the Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at our law firm has decided against the filing of a Lemtrada Class Action Suit, and is currently filing individual claims on behalf of injured individuals and/or their family members that have suffered strokes or arterial dissection.
A class action is a type of lawsuit filed with the court on behalf of large group of people or “class” of individuals that have been injured or wronged. The class is represented by the law firm and the case is generally decided upon a single member of the class who is sometimes referred to as the “class representative or class rep.”
Stroke Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of a stroke may include:
- Trouble with speaking and understanding
- Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg
- Sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg
- One side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile
- Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes
- Headache
- Trouble with walking
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination
Why Our Law Firm Is Filing Individual Lawsuits Opposed To a Class Action
In some instances, a class action may offer some advantages, as they aggregate a large number of individualized claims into one representational lawsuit. The aggregation can increase the efficiency of the legal process, lower the costs of litigation and in some cases offer the solution to a common problem wherein small recoveries do not provide the incentive for any individual or law firm to file an individual lawsuit.
However, a class action suit can also be a detriment to many class members, as they are often forced into a blanket “low ball settlement” and higher attorney fees. At Schmidt & Clark, LLP we understand that our clients are suffering emotionally and economically due to loss of wages and/or high medical bills and we plan to maximize each client’s recovery by filing individual stroke and arterial damage lawsuits on their behalf.
Do I Have a Lemtrada Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Lemtrada lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new stroke and blood vessel wall tear cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you’ve been harmed by Lemtrada side effects, stroke, or arterial dissection, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.