LONDON (Reuters) - British families seeking compensation for damage caused by GlaxoSmithKline's now-withdrawn diabetes drug Avandia face a lengthy court battle, despite the company agreeing to settle similar U.S. cases.
Manchester-based law firm Express Solicitors said on Wednesday it had commenced high court proceedings in four cases against GSK over the way it developed and marketed Avandia.
The law firm, which has a further 15 cases on its books, said it believed it was the first to commence proceedings against the drugmaker over Avandia in British courts.
European authorities decided to pull Avandia from the market in September 2010 after it was linked to increased heart risks. It is still approved for a limited number of patients in the United States.
In the wake of the safety scandal, GSK paid hundreds of millions of dollars to settle litigation over Avandia in the United States.
In Britain, however, where the legal system has historically seen smaller compensation payments, it is planning a fight.
Express said GSK had indicated to the court it was ready to spend 600,000 pounds ($945,000) defending one of the cases, despite the fact the actual claim was worth a fraction of this amount.
"Even though a settlement was reached in the U.S. to settle lawsuits, it seems GSK wishes to put up a fight in the UK as indicated in correspondence pre-proceedings," Express lawyer Daniel Slade said.
Avandia was first introduced into Britain in 2000 for people with type 2 diabetes who no longer responded adequately to older diabetes medicines. Express said many thousands of patients took the drug and many families could be eligible for compensation for death or harm caused to a relative.
"We have every sympathy for people with health complications associated with diabetes and those who care for them. Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on individual legal cases," a GSK spokesman said.
"We continue to believe that the company acted appropriately and responsibly in its management of Avandia."
graham
1 comment:
It is true we in the UK have not yet got the sue culture as the States have, although with more and more accident lawyer and similar adverts that appear regularly on our tv things are changing. GSK must of course realise this drug Avandia is unsafe, some may use a stronger word, but still puts money aside so they can afford to spend yet more on court cases defending their position, where if lawyers do the right thing a fair compensation will be offered and paid to UK families who have been affected by this dangerous drug.Thecase will of course take time and families will still have to wait for the outcome
Joe
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