ClassActionLawsuits.biz

The Kahn Gauthier Gauthier Law Group is investigating possible lawsuits against Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., the maker of the prescription arthritis drug Arava (leflunomide), following revelations that a significant number of patients taking Arava have suffered liver damage. Due to these revelations, the highly-regarded public interest group Public Citizen submitted a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 28, 2002, requesting that Arava be taken off the market immediately. Arava, which is classified as a DMARD (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug), is prescribed for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Public Citizen combed through adverse reaction reports received by the FDA and determined that, since the FDA approved Arava on September 10, 1998, Arava has been associated with at least 130 cases of severe liver toxicity in the U.S., including 56 hospitalizations and 12 deaths. Two of those who died were in their 20s. During the clinical trials that led up to the approval of Arava, liver toxicity was identified as a possible side effect of Arava.