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Defective Medical Products Lawyers: We have a national practice and have been interviewed by CNN, CBS News, Fox News, Associated Press and others. Contact a lawyer at our firm for a free consultation: 1-888-377-8900.
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Pritzker Olsen attorneys have appeared on CBS News, Fox news, and numerous local television stations throughout the country. They have recovered millions for people injured by defective medical products. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
Cephalon Lawsuit Involving Actiq and Off-Label Uses
In September of 2008, Cephalon Inc. plead guilty to a criminal misdemeanor and agreed to pay a $425 million settlement in a federal case filed in Philadelphia. The case centered around Cephalon’s alleged marketing of Actiq for “off-label” uses, which increased the sales of the drug dramatically. Actiq is approved by the FDA for use for pain management on cancer patients, who experience excruciating pain. The Actiq label reads as follows:
ACTIQ is indicated only for the management of breakthrough cancer pain in patients with malignancies who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. Patients considered opioid tolerant are those who are taking at least 60 mg morphine/day, at least 25 mcg transdermal fentanyl/hour, at least 30 mg of oxycodone daily, at least 8 mg oral hydromorphone daily or an equianalgesic dose of another opioid for a week or longer.
ACTIQ is intended to be used only in the care of cancer patients and only by oncologists and pain specialists who are knowledgeable of and skilled in the use of Schedule II opioids to treat cancer pain.
Because life-threatening hypoventilation could occur at any dose in patients not taking chronic opiates, ACTIQ is contraindicated in the management of acute or postoperative pain. This product must not be used in opioid non-tolerant patients.1
The active ingredient of Actiq is fentanyl. According to attorney Fred Pritzker, “Fentanyl is a strong and dangerous drug that requires the utmost caution by both doctors and patients. We see many cases in which people die as a result of not being properly screened, trained, and instructed regarding use and danger of this drug and the various systems used to deliver it to the human body.”Actiq is considered a fentanyl “lollipop.”
Federal prosecutors alleged that Cephalon was marketing the use of Actiq for migraine headaches and other “off-label” purposes. Fentanyl is a drug that is 100 times more potent than morphine. People allegedly died using Actiq for these “off-label” purposes.
Wrongful death lawsuits against Dr. Stephen Schneider allegedly involve Actiq and fentanyl overdose:
In December 2008, the family of Robin Geist-Wick - a 45-year-old patient who died of fentanyl intoxication on May 15, 2007 - added Cephalon as a defendant in its wrongful-death lawsuit against Schneider and another doctor from his clinic, Lawrence Simons, who also had treated Geist-Wick.2According to the complaint, Dr. Schneider had prescribed Actiq for Ms. Geist-Wick’s migraine headaches.
To contact our law firm about an Actiq wrongful death and a Cephalon lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our free case consultation form.
Important related FDA information: In January, the FDA finalized new guidelines that allow pharmaceutical companies to market off-label uses for drugs. We are concerned that these new guidelines will endanger the lives of countless patients. If you would like federal legislation to prevent this type of marketing, please contact your federal legislators. It is vitally important for all of us to care about the safety of our health care system. Given the FDA's track record, we cannot rely on the FDA to protect the public.
References:
1. http://www.actiq.com/ 2. Roxana Hegeman, Drugmaker Cephalon linked to indicted Kan. Doctor, Forbes, February 3, 2009.
Pritzker Olsen attorneys have appeared on national television and have been quoted by national publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press and Lawyers USA. Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law and Politics magazine (2008 and previous years). Attorney Fred Pritzker is also listed in the current edition (2008) of The Best Lawyers in America. To contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit the firm's free consultation form.
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We are Not Paid Unless You Win
Our attorneys work on a continguency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay our law firm for representing you unless we win you money.
Firm News
AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman have been given the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell for attorney, AV Preeminent. An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
Adjunct Teaching Position At U of M Law School
Attorney Brendan Flaherty has accepted an adjunct teaching position at the University of Minnesota Law School. For the 2011 spring semester, Flaherty will teach a course entitled "Practice and Professionalism," which will introduce students to foundational lawyering skills and professional responsibility issues.
Attorney Elliot Olsen Speaks at Conference
Attorney Elliot Olsen recently spoke at the Seventh Annual LifeScience Alley Conference in Minneapolis on Preemption and the Future of Medical Device Litigation. He appeared with Randall Pattee of Lindquist and Vennum and Jean Lance, VP of corporate legal and general counsel for Boston Scientific.
Named Super Lawyer
In recognition of their
achievements, Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman were named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine. According to Super Lawyers, "The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource to assist attorneys and consumers in the search for legal counsel."
Brendan Flaherty Named a Rising Star
In recognition of his achievements, Attorney Brendan Flaherty was named a 2010 Rising Star by Minnesota Law & Politics. Only 2.5 percent of the state’s lawyers are included on the list, which highlights Minnesota’s best up-and-coming legal talent.
Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury litigation.
This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.