BELLEVILLE — The makers of a generic brand of Valsartan high blood pressure medication are facing a suit alleging they continued to market and promote the drug knowing it was contaminated with a "probable carcinogen."
Lisa Maxton and Jon Maxton filed a complaint July 13 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Prinston Pharmaceutical Inc., doing business as Solco Healthcare LLC and Solco Healthcare U.S., LLC, alleging product liability and negligence.
According to the complaint, health officials were warned through a voluntary recall issued by the FDA on July 13, 2018 about the presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), an "EPA-listed probable human carcinogen" in drugs containing the active ingredient Valsartan, which is used to treat high blood pressure.
The plaintiffs allege that Lisa Maxton was prescribed and took Valsartan HCTZ in January 2016 to treat her high blood pressure and was told by her doctor to stop taking it in September 2017. Then in March 2018, Lisa Maxton was diagnosed with "cirrhosis of the liver with acites."
The plaintiffs allege that "manufacturing defects" in the defendants' China plant caused the drug's formula to become contaminated with NDMA. They also allege the defendants "willfully ignored warning signs" about its "operation standards" in the China plant as they continued to allow manufacturing of the drug. The plaintiffs claim the defendants knew the risks of the "profitable drug" but continued to market and distribute it.
The Maxtons seek a judgment in their favor, plus all other proper relief. They are represented by attorneys from Freeark, Dennis, Murphy & Moskop PC.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-0530