Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has announced that it will pay a staggering $425 million to settle lawsuits filed by individuals who suffered kidney damage due to the usage of the company’s heartburn medications, Nexium and Prilosec.
File Photo by Dan Himbrects/EPA-EFE
Oct. 3 (UPI) — AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical giant, disclosed that it has reached a settlement amounting to $425 million for the pending lawsuits concerning kidney damage allegedly caused by their heartburn drugs, Nexium and Prilosec.
In an official statement, the UK-based biotech company stated that the specific terms of the settlements will remain private. AstraZeneca also maintained its position, asserting that these claims lack merit and that the company does not accept any wrongdoing in relation to this matter.
AstraZeneca confirmed that the settlement resolves the product liability claims filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, as well as in the Delaware Superior Court and the New Jersey Superior Court.
“By resolving these cases, AstraZeneca avoids being subjected to further costly litigation and can instead focus on its mission of providing life-changing medications to countless patients worldwide,” the company officially stated.
It is worth noting that there is still one outstanding case in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, with a trial scheduled to take place in April 2024, as per AstraZeneca.
Nexium and Prilosec are prescription-only medications utilized in the treatment of acid-related symptoms and diseases. According to AstraZeneca, these drugs work by binding to and inhibiting specific acid pumps in the stomach lining cells, which effectively reduces the production of stomach acid.
Recent research has raised concerns about the long-term usage of proton pump inhibitors, a type of medication used to address acid reflux. One study published this year even suggested a potential association between these medications and an increased risk of developing dementia.
Moreover, a study presented during a meeting held by the American Society of Nephrology in 2021 indicated that individuals who take heartburn medication prior to heart surgery are at a higher risk of experiencing acute kidney injury and death during hospitalization.
