Metformin Cancer Lawsuits
Last Updated on December 23, 2020
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter. Check back for any potential updates. You can also sign up for our free newsletter for the latest in class action news and settlements.
If you still have questions about your rights, contact an attorney in your area as there is a time limit for filing all lawsuits. The information on this page was posted when the investigation began and is now for reference only.
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Case Update
- December 21, 2020 – Investigation Closed
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have decided to close their investigation into this matter. If you have questions about your rights or are interested in filing a claim over your metformin use, please contact an attorney in your area. The information below is for reference only. Our open list of investigations can be found here.
You can also find additional information on metformin over on our blog.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Individuals who took recalled metformin tablets and were diagnosed with certain types of cancer.
- What’s Going On?
- Several recalls have been issued after a probable carcinogen was found in certain lots of extended-release metformin tablets. Now, attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether lawsuits can be filed on behalf of patients who developed cancer after ingesting the drugs.
- How Can a Lawsuit Help?
- A lawsuit could give metformin users and their loved ones the chance to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses and more.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are interested in speaking with patients who took recalled metformin tablets and were diagnosed with any of the following types of cancer:
- Prostate Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
In mid-2020, the FDA began announcing widespread recalls after certain lots of extended-release metformin were found to contain unacceptable levels of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable carcinogen. Now, attorneys believe they can file lawsuits against the manufacturers of the drugs for medical bills, lost work and other damages related to a cancer diagnosis.
How Do I Know If the Metformin I Took Was Recalled for NDMA?
The FDA keeps a searchable database of all metformin medications that were recalled for possibly containing NDMA above the acceptable limit. You can search the FDA’s list of recalled metformin products and see affected lot numbers right here.
The following companies are among those who recalled some or all lots of their extended-release metformin tablets:
- Amneal Pharmaceuticals
- Apotex Corp
- AVKARE Inc.
- Bayshore Pharmaceuticals, LLC
- Denton Pharma, Inc.
- Direct Rx
- Granules Pharmaceuticals
- Lupin Pharmaceuticals
- Marksans Pharma Limited
- Nostrum Laboratories
- PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals
- Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- RemedyRepack Inc.
- Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, Inc.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals
Is This a Class Action Lawsuit?
Although some class action lawsuits have been filed over recalled metformin products, attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking to file individual lawsuits on behalf of patients who were diagnosed with certain types of cancer after taking the drugs. The class action lawsuits are, in general, only seeking money spent on the medication rather than the thousands of dollars some patients have lost due to an inability to work and treatment costs.
In short, if you or a loved one developed cancer that you suspect is linked to a recalled metformin medication, you will need to hire your own attorney and file your own lawsuit to recover money for medical bills, lost wages and more.
NDMA Toxicity and the Metformin Cancer Risk
Animal studies have revealed the toxic effects of ingesting NDMA to include liver cancer, liver disease, lung cancer, internal bleeding and death. In light of these findings, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) states that it is “reasonable to expect” that ingesting NDMA could also cause cancer in humans. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer as officially classified NDMA as a “probable human carcinogen.”
NDMA can be found in a number of foods and consumer products (for instance, cured meat and laundry detergents) and, according to the FDA, is not harmful when ingested in low levels. With this in mind, the agency has set a limit of 96 nanograms per day as the acceptable intake limit for NDMA in drugs. In mid-2020, however, the FDA announced that laboratory testing revealed NDMA levels beyond this acceptable amount in certain metformin products.
Because of the cancer risk associated with NDMA exposure, the FDA began working with manufacturers to recall certain lots and encourage companies to evaluate the risk of excessive NDMA in their drugs.
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