Zofran Injuries and Side Effects
Stern Law’s experienced drug product attorneys are currently litigating cases involving Zofran. If you took prescription Zofran while pregnant, and your child was born with a birth abnormality, contact us today to see if you might have claim for damages against the manufacturer.
Zofran, also known by the chemical name ondansetron, is a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. It is a tablet manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that was designed for prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatment in cancer patients, as well as for general postoperative nausea.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zofran the treatment of specific instances of nausea and vomiting. But the drug eventually became a widely prescribed remedy for nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, commonly referred to as morning sickness. Morning sickness is not an approved use for the drug, and using Zofran while pregnant can cause birth defects, including:
- Club foot – A birth defect in which one or both feet are twisted or appear out of position.
- Cleft palate – An opening or split in the roof of the mouth, often occurring in conjunction with a cleft lip.
- Cleft lip – An opening or split in the top lip, often occurring in conjunction with a cleft palate.
- Heart defects – Abnormalities of the heart, including septal defects, holes in the heart, ventricular hypertension, and aortic arch hypoplasia.
- Skull deformities – Includes craniosynostosis, a birth defect in which the fibrous joints between the skull fuse prematurely, giving the head a misshapen appearance.
Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against GSK alleging that the manufacturer knew about and encouraged off-label use of Zofran for morning sickness, despite knowing it could potentially cause birth defects. Hundreds of Zofran cases have been centralized in one court in the District of Massachusetts in what is known as a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). This court will oversee all pretrial matters and preside over the first Zofran trials, called “bellwether” trials. The MDL process is well underway, so the time to act upon your potential claim is now.
Contact Stern Law, PLLC
At Stern Law, we are committed to bringing our clients justice. If you took Zofran while pregnant, and your child has a birth defect, contact Stern Law, PLLC, at (844) 808-7529, to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled product liability attorneys.
