Nasdaq.com reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Praluent, the first of a new and highly anticipated class of cholesterol medications. The drug, jointly developed by Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, will provide an alternative to patients who have not had success with statins like Pfizer’s controversial Lipitor.
From 1996 until its patent expired in 2011, Lipitor was the world’s best-selling drug, with an estimated $125 billion in total sales. Despite its popularity, however, Lipitor has become the subject of numerous Lipitor lawsuits. Women plaintiffs in Lipitor lawsuits claim that Pfizer’s drug puts women at greater risk for diabetes than men, and that the drug’s benefits are not as great in female users.
Lipitor lawsuits began piling up in 2012 after the FDA announced that Lipitor may cause increased blood sugar, especially in women. The FDA’s communication was followed by several medical studies linking Lipitor to increased risk of diabetes. Research has revealed Lipitor users may be up to 48 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. Still more studies have associated Lipitor with cardiovascular and musculoskeletal problems, such as a 2013 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, which found that statins like Lipitor may negate the benefits of exercise.
While Praluent may not achieve the same volume of prescriptions as Lipitor, it could end up generating even more revenue. Sanofi and Regeneron have priced the new drug at $14,600 per year, which Nasdaq notes is an exceptionally high number considering how common a condition heart disease is. Some pharmaceutical economists project that Praluent could rake in up to $100 billion per year.
If you or someone you know was diagnosed with diabetes while taking Lipitor, contact the pharmaceutical attorneys at Lopez McHugh. We can provide a free consultation to determine whether a Lipitor lawsuit is right for you.
