Holding Pharmaceutical Companies Responsible for Defective Drugs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in its 2007 to 2008 study that nine out of 10 American adults and one out of five children took at least one prescription medication in the last month. This shocking statistic highlights the enormous impact the pharmaceutical industry has on health care in the United States. Sadly, many of these patients face high risks of injury by the very drug that is supposed to return them to health.

Hensley Cloninger & Greer, P.C., focuses solely on personal injury and medical malpractice recovery in Asheville and the surrounding communities. Drawing on our more than 30 years in practice, our lawyers handle the most challenging product liability claims against pharmaceutical manufacturers. To successfully represent injured patients, we remain abreast of medical industry news, including injuries and deaths linked to dangerous drugs. Every step our legal team takes is directed toward maximizing your personal injury settlement or trial verdict.

FDA Approval Does Not Mean A Drug Is Safe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not conduct its own premarket studies into the safety and efficacy of drugs submitted for approval. Instead, the agency relies on research results provided directly from the manufacturers. After spending millions on research and development, pharmaceutical corporations have an incentive to tweak data or conceal negative findings. In addition, even carefully controlled human studies often involve only a limited number of subjects, which can substantially skew the conclusions. For example, a drug may react differently in women, a fact missed by many male-heavy studies.

Typically, a recall, black box warning or safety alert is issued only after a number of people have been injured or killed by the dangerous medication. Multiple serious injuries may still not be enough to convince a corporation to voluntarily withdraw a product from the market.