ZofranZofran is a prescription medication manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that was originally created to treat nausea for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. The medication was then heavily marketed to treat morning sickness for pregnant women even though it was never FDA approved or clinically tested. Now, numerous Zofran lawsuits are being filed against GSK claiming that women who have taken Zofran during pregnancy have an increased risk for birth defects. Recently, a mother has filed a lawsuit alleging that Zofran caused her child’s birth defects.

How Was The Child Harmed?

pregnant woman who has been taking zofran

The mother was prescribed and began taking Zofran early in her first trimester of pregnancy to treat morning sickness. Her child was born with numerous birth effects such as heart issues, low set ears, hearing loss, sensitivity to light, and webbed toes. Over the course of 12 years, the child had to undergo 10 surgeries in an attempt to correct her numerous abnormalities. The child’s condition has had a serious impact on her health, life at home and at school. There is no history of birth defects in the family and genetic testing did not identify any irregularities. In fact, the mother previously gave birth to a healthy child after a pregnancy in which she did not take Zofran. Had she known about the potential risks, she most likely would not have taken Zofran while pregnant. The mother has obtained a lawyer that has filed a lawsuit against GSK on her behalf.

Why Is This Shocking?

Morning sickness is a common side effect of a normal pregnancy and GSK used this as an opportunity to market Zofran to pregnant women as a safe and effective treatment without ever conducting a clinical trial. They also never sought to obtain FDA approval to use the drug during pregnancy. One possible reason is because they did not want to undertake the time and expense of testing the drug because that would cut into profits. It is alarming to think that a pharmaceutical company might place the health of unborn children at risk for financial gain.

baby graspMoreover, it is suspected that GSK could have known that Zofran was potentially harmful during pregnancy. In the 1980s, GSK tested Zofran on animals which revealed deaths and birth defects in the offspring. In addition, the tests indicated that the drug was reaching the fetus in the animals. GSK did not disclose this information to pregnant women or their physicians. A later independent study was conducted in humans that indicated ingested Zofran was being transferred to human fetuses in substantial amounts. Since then, GSK has received over 200 reports expressing concern of the potential risks of birth defects associated with the use of Zofran. Again, this was not communicated to pregnant women or their physicians. In 2012, GSK plead guilty to criminal charges for promoting Zofran for uses never approved by the FDA and during this time paid over $1 billion to the federal government for illegally marketing drugs, including Zofran.

Protect Your Rights

zofran lawyer meeting clientsIf you or someone you know has suffered harm or serious injury after taking Zofran, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering, among other losses. Our firm is working with experienced Zofran lawyers, who are investigating these cases. They may be able to file a Zofran lawsuit for you and they charge no fee unless you win an award or settlement. For a free (no obligation) case evaluation, call our toll free number at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online.

Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

Rate this Post

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Loading...