Viberzi Litigation Guide

Patients without gallbladder who developed a potentially fatal pancreatitis after taking the IBS-D drug Viberzi are filing lawsuits against Allergan. If you or a loved one required emergency hospitalization shortly after taking this medication, our lawyers may assist you in seeking compensation.

What is Viberzi?

Viberzi (eluxadoline) is an oral prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. A mixed opioid receptor agonist-antagonists drug, it prevents bowel spasms and contractions by reducing the gastrointestinal motility and relaxing smooth muscle cells. Originally developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Actavis, the drug was approved for use in the U.S. in 2015, and it is currently marketed by Allergan.

Why is this drug dangerous?

On March 15, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication to warn patients about potentially lethal complications associated with this medication. According to the announcement, a review from the regulatory agency found that patients who do not have a gallbladder are exposed to a seriously increased risk of developing dangerous pancreatitis which might lead to emergency hospitalization and even death.

Since it is an opiate medication, Viberzi may cause a sphincter of Oddi spasm (SOS), an effect that is particularly increased when the gallbladder is not present. This organ appears to act as a pressure reservoir whose compensatory activity prevents ductal spams which concur in causing a potentially lethal pancreatitis.

The FDA received a total of 120 serious adverse reaction reports associated with the use of this medication. 76 patients required hospitalization, 2 of them died, and some reported suffering from severe pancreatitis within 3 days of taking the initial dose of eluxadoline.

How can I file a Viberzi lawsuit?

According to recent claims filed by the victims’ lawyers, Allergan failed to properly warn the public about the risks and did not perform the necessary studies to adequately assess this medication’s safety. The drugmaker did, in fact, recommend a specific dose for patients without a gallbladder, yet it never told them about these dangers.

The attorneys argue that the manufacturer is responsible for marketing a safe product and warning patients about its potential side effects. If you suffered from pancreatitis after taking Viberzi (especially if you have no gallbladder), our law firm will assist you in filing a litigation to seek just compensation in court.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include:

• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weight Loss

Is Viberzi a Class Action or a Mass Tort?

So far, no Viberzi class action or mass tort has been consolidated. Our attorneys are filing individual claims to help plaintiffs obtain the largest reward possible. If a sufficient number of cases is filed in state courts across the country, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) can be centralized and overseen by a federal judge. MDLs help plaintiffs by giving the strength of large numbers if the manufacturer chooses to proceed to trial.

How much is my case worth and how much I should pay?

How much your case is worth is largely dependant on how severe was the damage you had to endure. Regardless of whether your individual claim is centralized within an MDL, you can sue for all the expenses you incurred to pay your treatment, as well as loss of wages and consortium, physical and psychological damage and more. Since pancreatitis is a serious threat to a person’s life, our attorneys expect the pharmaceutical company to settle many cases. The actual Viberzi settlement amount may range from hundreds of thousands of dollars, up to several million for the most severe cases (such as death ones).

You should not pay anything to file a dispute. Our law firm does work on a contingency basis, meaning that we will earn a percentage of your reward only if your case is successful in court. This percentage is standard and is set by the respective state bars.

Contact our law firm today to receive a free and confidential consultation to evaluate your legal options.