PPI MDL Discovery Stage Facing Hurdles; Judge to Intervene

PPI MDL Discovery Stage Facing Hurdles; Judge to Intervene

Introduction

In August 2017, Proton Pump Inhibitor Lawsuits were centralized in the District of New Jersey naming AstraZeneca (maker of Nexium and Prilosec) and Procter & Gamble (maker of Prilosec OTC) as the defendants, alleging that they failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the serious kidney risks associated with their drugs used to treat symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers, and other gastrointestinal problems. The MDL now has more than 650 lawsuits filed which are currently in the discovery stage.

However, due to the ongoing issues and delays involving document production from both the manufacturers’ end, the plaintiff lawyers have sent letters to the presiding U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi, twice. The first letter sent on February 13, requested her to consider scheduling bi-weekly teleconferences to address the ongoing issues and delays involving document production by AstraZeneca. This was followed by the second letter on February 16, asking her to order P&G to release documents per the court set dates and to have a specific hearing related to P&G’s discovery issues.