PENSACOLA, FL | OCTOBER 4, 2023

Plaintiffs Attorneys in Heartburn Drugs Lawsuits Announce $425M AstraZeneca Settlement But Say the Fight Is Not Over

05 October 2023

The Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the national Proton-Pump Inhibitor (PPI) litigation just achieved a massive settlement for thousands of victims whose acid reflux drugs allegedly caused their kidney injuries.

Levin Papantonio Rafferty (LPR) Attorneys Troy Rafferty and Cameron Stephenson announced a settlement victory involving thousands of lawsuits claiming AstraZeneca's heartburn drugs, Nexium and Prilosec, caused chronic kidney injuries. The settlement came after years of litigation contending that AstraZeneca knew of these risks, dating all the way back to the clinical trial phrase, yet failed to warn patients and their healthcare providers.

Rafferty, a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee (PEC) in the PPI multidistrict litigation (MDL), said he and Stephenson are thrilled for their clients but noted litigation continues against another PPI manufacturer, Takeda.

Today's settlement announcement marks an unbelievable result for plaintiffs and victims, but this isn't over."

TROY RAFFERTY, ATTORNEY, LEVIN PAPANTONIO RAFFERTY, AND MEMBER OF THE PLAINTIFFS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The settlement represents partial closure in a continuing, larger litigation against manufacturers of PPI-class drugs in a New Jersey federal court before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi [MDL -2789 IN RE: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (No. II)].

"Today's settlement announcement marks an unbelievable result for plaintiffs and victims," Rafferty said, "but this isn't over."

Rafferty referred to the fact that PPI claims against pharmaceutical giant Takeda, maker of the drugs Prevacid and Dexilant, are still pending.

Now all eyes turn to Takeda. I can guarantee the PSC--this whole team of law firms--will fight even harder until Takeda pays for the damages they caused. We are more motivated now than ever.”

CAMERON STEPHENSON, ATTORNEY, LEVIN PAPANTONIO RAFFERTY

Stephenson applauded the efforts of all of the PEC and PSC law firms, noting that successful litigation against Big Pharma takes a team of lawyers who are willing to stand up to corporations in the name of what is right. The PPI MDL-2789 has been pending since 2017, costing the law firms millions of dollars and requiring thousands of llitigation hours to bring about this outcome.

"I have been involved in this litigation for years," Stephenson added. "To see this result on behalf of our clients is why I do this. But now all eyes turn to Takeda. I can guarantee the PSC--this whole team of law firms--will fight even harder until Takeda pays for the damages they caused. We are more motivated now than ever.”

The Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm has been representing injured people across the globe since 1955.

About Levin Papantonio Rafferty

The Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm has been representing injured people across the globe since 1955. The firm has gained national recognition as one of the most successful personal injury firms in the world and has been featured on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, as well as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, Forbes, and National Law Journal.

Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorneys handle lawsuits throughout the country involving prescription drugs, medical devices, medical malpractice, car accidents, and business litigation. Levin Papantonio Rafferty has earned over $40 billion in jury verdicts and settlements, litigating against some of the largest corporations in the world.

For questions about the firm’s legal practice, call 1 (800) 277-1193.

To interview LPR Attorney Troy Rafferty or Attorney Cameron Stephenson, contact Sara Stephens at sstephens@levinlaw.com or via phone at 281-744-6560; or Mark Benhard at mbenhard@levinlaw.com or via phone at 818-919-9993.