In June 2020, Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals added new warnings to Elmiron, a medication used to treat interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder condition. Previous studies linked regular use of the medication to an increased risk of a rare eye disorder called retinal maculopathy, a condition often misdiagnosed as macular degeneration that leads to vision loss.
If you or a loved one was treated with Elmiron and then diagnosed with a macular eye disorder, you may be entitled to compensation through an Elmiron lawsuit. The latest Elmiron lawsuit update indicates that Janssen Pharmaceuticals is working to settle Elmiron lawsuits. Reach out today to see if you have a viable claim.
Elmiron Lawsuit Updates
Nearly 2,000 Elmiron lawsuits are pending in the 2.5-year-old Elmiron multi-district litigation against Janssen Pharmaceuticals. These cases allege Janssen failed to warn patients or their doctors about the risk of macular eye damage with the use of Elmiron. The legal team at Lawsuit Legal News created this Elmiron Lawsuit Update to provide you with the latest news in this ongoing MDL.
August 2023 – Elmiron Lawsuit Settlements Likely on the Horizon
Progress in the Elmiron MDL slowed dramatically as the dates for the much-anticipated bellwether trials drew nearer. The trials are on hold as Janssen works to settle large groups of Elmiron lawsuits. Once the first settlements are resolved, the legal team at Lawsuit Legal News anticipates settlement offers to resolve the remaining lawsuits pending in the Elmiron MDL, bringing the litigation to a close.
October 2022 – First Elmiron Bellwether Trial Postponed
The Elmiron MDL judge pushed back the first Elmiron bellwether trial from January 2023 to March 27, 2023. The judge gave no explanation why the date was pushed back. Meanwhile, Elmiron lawsuit filings have begun to slow.
July 2022 – Most Significant Monthly Increase in Elmiron Lawsuits
The Elmiron MDL experienced its most significant increase in lawsuits in July 2022, with 365 new cases—one of the largest increases in new cases of any mass tort MDL in the U.S. The number of plaintiffs is up to 1,725.
May 2022 – Three Elmiron Lawsuits Selected as Bellwether Trials
The Elmiron MDL judge selected the first three Elmiron lawsuits to serve as bellwether trials. For all three cases, discovery must be concluded by September 9, 2022. The first bellwether trial is set for January 2023, the second for March 2023, and the third, May 2023. There are now 900 lawsuits pending in the Elmiron MDL.
February 22, 2022 – New Jersey Supreme Court Consolidates State’s Elmiron Lawsuits
The New Jersey Supreme Court ordered all Elmiron lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals pending in New Jersey state court be consolidated in Bergen County, New Jersey, where Janssen Pharmaceuticals is headquartered. This consolidation of state Elmiron cases is New Jersey’s equivalent of an MDL. Meanwhile, the federal Elmiron MDL has grown to at least 736 lawsuits.
May 12, 2021 – First Bellwether Trial Dates Set
As cases in the MDL soared to 225, the court ordered that the first Elmiron bellwether trial be held in or around January 2023.
March 10, 2021 – More Elmiron Lawsuits Added to MDL
Less than three months after the panel established the Elmiron MDL, the number of federal cases pending in the MDL climbed to 196.
December 15, 2020 – JPML Establishes New Elmiron MDL
With lawsuits mounting, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established the Elmiron MDL, consolidating roughly 130 federal Elmiron lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey under Judge Brian Martinotti.
June 2020 – Janssen Adds New Macular Eye Disorder Warnings to Elmiron
More than two years after researchers found an association between the IC medication Elmiron and retinal maculopathy, Janssen Pharmaceuticals updated Elmiron’s safety label to include a warning that taking Elmiron “may be associated with pigment changes in the retina of the eye that may continue even after stopping treatment with Elmiron.” The warning also recommends that patients taking the medication receive regular eye examinations, including retinal examinations for early detection of retinal/macular changes.
However, by the time Janssen added the new warnings, the drug had already been on the market as a treatment for IC since 1996. During that time, tens of thousands of patients were prescribed the medication and were at risk for the macular eye problem.
The news prompted Elmiron lawsuits by those who suffered harm, accusing the IC drug’s maker, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, of failing to warn users or their doctors that Elmiron use could cause eye disorders.
December 2019 – More Evidence Links Elmiron to Retinal Maculopathy
The Interstitial Cystitis Network surveyed its members and found that among those taking Elmiron, over half suffered from retinal problems. Yet, Elmiron’s safety label still contained no warnings for this risk.
May 22, 2018 – Study Links Elmiron to Macular Eye Disorder
The first study linking pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS), the active ingredient in Elmiron, to eye problems was published in the peer-reviewed journal Ophthalmology. Researchers observed in a group of patients treated with PPS for interstitial cystitis “a novel and possibly avoidable maculopathy associated with chronic exposure to PPS.”
The macular eye disorder, described as a “unique pigmentary maculopathy,” was associated with difficulty reading and prolonged adaptation to darkness despite generally intact visual acuity. This rare eye disorder alters pigment cells in the retina, which changes eye color and significantly damages the eye leading to vision loss. Retinal maculopathy is often mistaken for a similar eye disorder called macular degeneration.
To Learn More, Reach Out to an Experienced Mass Tort Team
If you or a loved one suffered macular eye damage after using the interstitial cystitis medication Elmiron, you may be eligible to join the Elmiron lawsuit MDL and recover compensation for your losses. Contact the legal team at Lawsuit Legal News by calling 866-467-0943 or completing our online contact form. We will gladly evaluate your case during a free consultation.