Pfizer's Accuretic Cancer
Risk Lawsuit
In March, famous pharmaceutical organization, Pfizer, recalled one of its medications for blood pressure — Accuretic. This news came on the heels of claims that some Accuretic lots had high amounts of a carcinogen tagged “nitrosamine.”
Pfizer's Accuretic Cancer Risk Lawsuit
In March, famous pharmaceutical organization, Pfizer, recalled one of its medications for blood pressure — Accuretic. This news came on the heels of claims that some Accuretic lots had high amounts of a carcinogen tagged “nitrosamine.”
However, consumers should note that this recall is for specific Accuretic formats. According to Pfizer, the drug hasn’t posed any negative effect linked to this impurity. Regardless, there’s a chance it has, and this could see the manufacturer — Pfizer — face some lawsuits soon.
Below, we’ll examine the “Accuretic” drug, details of the recall by Pfizer, and claims that could arise by patrons.
What Is Accuretic?
Accuretic, also tagged quinapril or hydrochlorothiazide, is a popular drug for hypertension treatment.
This drug is nicknamed the “two in one” as it integrates two high blood pressure medications — quinapril & hydrochlorothiazide.
Quinapril is an Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that relaxes the body’s blood vessels. On the flip side, hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that facilitates frequent urination to maintain the body’s sodium level.
Doctors direct most hypertension patients to use water pills (diuretic) and an ACE inhibitor drug like quinapril to treat their ailment efficiently.
However, with Accuretic, two unique medications aren’t required.
Although the standard Accuretic dosage is 10mg daily, most individuals bump their daily usage to 25mg daily based on their doctor’s prescription.
Details of the Accuretic Recall
On the 21st of March, 2022, pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, came out to announce a recall for Accuretic — a famous blood pressure drug.
This recall was for unique Accuretic lots on the market, including some of its hydrochlorothiazide and quinapril medications.
Pfizer issued a notification for the recall of these drugs due to a finding by its “quality control” team. According to their report, tests on several Accuretic lots confirmed the sighting of a cancer-resulting nitrosamine form — N-nitroso-quinapril.
Low amounts of nitrosamines are seen in vegetables, water, and processed meals. Nonetheless, the value of this cancer-causing agent in Accuretic was on the high side and was considered unsafe for intake.
So, what are nitrosamines?
Simply put, they’re impurities made up of nitrates and specific amines.
They’re usually seen in a vast array of vegetables and manufactured consumables, such as cigarettes, cured meat, and processed meals.
Nitrosamines are considered to be potent strains of carcinogens. Ingesting products that incorporate a high level of nitrosamines daily will lead to several illnesses, including:
- Lung cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney bladder cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Esophageal cancer
As humans, we ingest things with nitrosamines daily. However, consuming these products isn’t a valid cause for concern as they contain low nitrosamine levels.
Conversely, if nitrosamine rates are high, they become dangerous to the average human.
To ensure that US citizens lead a healthy life, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces safe levels of nitrosamine that products must integrate to comply with stringent and harsh checks.
The nitrosamine form in Pfizer’s blood pressure drug, Accuretic, is called “N-nitroso-quinapril.”
In the notice released by Pfizer, the firm acknowledged that continued usage could cause cancer. However, it also said Accuretic posed no “adverse risks” to those using it to treat their blood pressure.
The recall release also indicates that all recalled drugs have a well-cataloged history spanning over 20 years that denotes their overall safety. Pfizer also claims that it hasn’t received a report that links a terminal illness to the daily usage of recalled drugs.
As we’ve established, the recall only covers distinctive Accuretic lots, notably those created from 2019 – 2022.
Pfizer’s recall includes all variations of:
- Accuretic™ (quinapril HCI/hydrochlorothiazide) tablets, 20/12.5 mg
- Accuretic™ (quinapril HCI/hydrochlorothiazide) tablets, 20/25 mg
- Accuretic™ (quinapril HCI/hydrochlorothiazide) tablets, 20/25 mg
NDC | Lot Value | Expiry Date | Strength | Count |
0071-3112-23 | FG5379 | 08/24 | 10/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
0071-0222-23 | EA6686 | 04/22 | 10/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
0071-5212-23 | FG5381 | 08/24 | 20/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
0071-0220-23 | CN0640 | 04/22 | 20/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
0071-0220-23 | EA6665 | 04/22 | 20/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
0071-0223-23 | ET6974 | 02/23 | 20/25 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
Pfizer’s recall for the distinctive formats of quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide include:
- Quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets, 20/25 mg
- Quinapril HCI/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, 20/12.5 mg
- Quinapril HCI/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, 20/25 mg
NDC | Lot Value | Expiry Date | Strength | Count |
59762-5225-9 | FE3714 | 02/23 | 20/25 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
59762-0220-1 | DN6931 | 03/23 | 20/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
59762-0220-1 | ED3904 | 03/23 | 20/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
59762-0220-1 | ED3905 | 03/23 | 20/12.5 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
59762-0223-1 | DP3414 | 02/23 | 20/25 mg | 1 times 90 count bottle |
NOTE: Pfizer has instructed entities possessing these medications to discontinue usage or sales and arrange returns immediately.
- THIS IS AN ACTIVE LAWSUIT
Accuretic Recalls By Pfizer: Will They Result in Lawsuits?
Pfizer is doing all it can to downplay the significance of any adverse effects of the Accuretic drug with a prompt recall worldwide. This effort is geared toward avoiding any product liability litigation that may arise from prolonged usage.
Pfizer didn’t recall all Accuretic drugs. Instead, it recalled some lots (as indicated in the table above), suggesting that nitrosamine contamination doesn’t apply to all their manufactured Accuretic medications. With this recall process, Pfizer aims to show that other Accuretic lots were free from the nitrosamine impurity 100%.
Nonetheless, the validity of this procedure hasn’t been put through the “litmus test.” For starters, Pfizer hasn’t explained how some lots had nitrosamine impurities, and others didn’t.
Therefore, in-depth investigations may show that Pfizer was unaware of any defects until recently.
If this occurs, it’ll be similar to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) discovery in a famed heartburn reduction drug — Zantac — in 2020 by the FDA.
Upon discovery, Zantac makers — GlaxoSmithKline — suggested that NDMA was only peculiar to several lots. However, research disputed this claim, and it was later discovered that all Zantac drugs contained high values of N-nitrosodimethylamine. In fact, NDMA was present in the manufacturing stage.
The result? Numerous individuals filed Zantac cancer claims, and GSK recalled the entire medication.
At this juncture, no one knows if nitrosamine presence in several Accuretic lots could spell disaster for Pfizer and see them shoulder many “Accuretic cancer claims” like GlaxoSmithKline.
Irrefutable evidence links nitrosamines and cancer. Thus, there’s a chance that several people might make claims soon as to how prolonged Accuretic use resulted in a terminal cancer illness.
Attributes to Consider When Hiring a Product Liability Lawyer
Once one person links Accuretic usage to their cancer diagnosis, chances are other individuals will file claims against Pfizer. If this occurs and you used Accuretic at some point in your life, you’re eligible for a settlement.
Although some people might want to go the DIY (Do It Yourself) path, litigating a case against revered lawyers never goes well, and your chances of losing are high.
So, who do you need in your corner for litigations due to illness from a defective medical product?
A product liability lawyer!
Before we examine the advantages of these attorneys, here are factors to consider when hiring one.
Notable mentions include:
Specialization
Before you pick a product liability lawyer to litigate your claim in court, it’s crucial to check their specialty. With many top-tier legal firms and attorneys having unique websites, you can easily find this in one click.
By examining what litigations they’ve dealt with, you can easily decipher if they’ll be a perfect fit for your upcoming Accuretic case.
Although you might encounter personal injury lawyers that can fight for you, we advise going to court “armed to the teeth” with a top-notch product liability lawyer by your side.
Negotiation Prowess
Most pharmaceutical firms shy away from trials as they cast their products in a negative light. Thus, companies like Pfizer will dole out settlements to avoid heading to court entirely. Since these entities are tight-fisted when doling out settlement amounts that tally the patron’s losses, you’ll need an attorney to negotiate for you.
Here, we recommend hiring a product liability attorney that keeps their emotions in check during negotiations. This singular attribute, alongside intuition in your lawyer, is bound to grant you a settlement amount that suits all your losses to the “T.”
Communication Skills
Communication is crucial in any professional endeavor. Before you choose a product liability lawyer, ensure they’re readily accessible to discuss the specifics of your case. They should also be able to give answers to your queries politely and understandably.
Additionally, your lawyers should make a deliberate effort to contact you during the case and get you up to speed with their actions in ensuring your claim yields an ideal result. However, if a product liability lawyer claims to be busy 24/7, it might be time to cast your hiring net wider.
Educational Background
Your attorney will be your closest ally during a possible Accuretic lawsuit. Therefore, it’s vital that you know all about them, down to their educational history. Although these data bits might seem challenging to get, you can ask them for proof of their educational background and notable achievements during an interview.
If they’re legit and verifiable, you’re good to go.
Experience in Related Cases
Experience is the best teacher.
When hiring an attorney, read testimonials to see what cases they won and those they lost. Additionally, it’ll be great to check the timeline of their practice.
If your product liability lawyer has practiced for over a decade, the chances of yielding positive outcomes in your case are high as they’re knowledgeable with the specifics surrounding related suits.
Top Benefits of Hiring a Product Liability Lawyer
If you or a loved one experiences inconveniences from Accuretic use, you could file a case. For this process, we advise using a product liability attorney for the following reasons:
To Establish Liability
No defendant heads to court with a placard that shows — I’m liable and guilty. For your Accuretic claim, hiring a product liability lawyer is important as they’ll help you establish that Pfizer’s Accuretic caused your illness.
Nonetheless, this process isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Your product liability lawyer will seek relevant Accuretic information that portrays its link to your reduced quality of living.
Therefore, if the defendant doesn’t settle and insists on a trial, your attorney has irrefutable evidence to present to the jury and presiding judge.
Negate Costly Mistakes
Even if you have all the evidence to nail the creator of Accuretic (Pfizer), an error as insignificant as not filling your prescription at the stipulated time frame or posting about the case on social media can harm your chances of scoring a win.
However, with a licensed product liability lawyer in your corner, you’ll get regular advice on what you must do to avoid mistakes. With proper guidance, you’ll most likely rank high after the court’s final verdict.
Provide an Extensive Account of Damages
Not giving a detailed account of what you’ve lost due to Accuretic usage can see the defendant issue a low-ball settlement.
Well, the narrative changes when you hire an attorney. This legal practitioner goes the “extra mile” to calculate all the difficulties you’ve experienced and incorporate a negotiation strategy to ensure you get a settlement that augurs your losses.
Cost-effective
Most product liability attorneys offer their services on a contingency-fee-basis. This revolutionary policy entails that you won’t get charged a “cent” by your lawyer until the defendant compensates you.
Upon settlement, you’ll release a distinct fee (based on the retainer contract) to the lawyer or legal agency that litigated your case.
With this policy in place, you’ll receive legal assistance without risking any money.
- THIS IS AN ACTIVE LAWSUIT
Accuretic Lawsuits: Class Actions or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)?
Although relatively new, Accuretic cases may be converted into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL).
This claim variation suits the narrative as MDLs usually stem from:
- Defective design
- Defects in the manufacturing process
- Failure to issue warnings concerning the dangers of prolonged usage.
Major Takeaway
If you ingested Accuretic for your hypertension before the recall, note that you can file a claim and get settled accordingly.
However, we recommend going to court with a top-tier product liability lawyer if the case proceeds to a trial.
Although nobody has come out to file claims on Pfizer, the manufacturer implores anyone who took Accuretic and other recalled generic medications to head to their doctor and make checks accordingly.
On This Page
- Pfizer's Accuretic Cancer Risk Lawsuit
- What Is Accuretic?
- Details of the Accuretic Recall
- Accuretic Recalls By Pfizer: Will They Result in Lawsuits?
- Attributes to Consider When Hiring a Product Liability Lawyer
- Top Benefits of Hiring a Product Liability Lawyer
- Accuretic Lawsuits: Class Actions or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)?
This is an active lawsuit.
Individuals affected by this particular product or chemical are currently filing lawsuits.