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Baycol - Class Action Information
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A law firm is investigating a possible Baycol lawsuit against Bayer A.G., the
German pharmaceutical and chemical conglomerate, after Bayer recalled its cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol
(cerivastatin sodium tablets) on August 8, 2001. Although Bayer initially reported that the number of Baycol
related deaths worldwide was 52, Bayer doubled that estimate in January, 2002. Meanwhile, the German federal
institute for drugs and medical products announced that worldwide around 1,100 cases of muscular atrophy are
suspected to be linked to Baycol. The Baycol injuries and deaths are due to complications from a condition
called rhabdomyolysis, in which muscle cells break down and release potentially toxic cell contents into the
bloodstream.
Bayer did not change the Baycol prescribing information to include a contraindication with gemfibrozil until
December, 1999. Some 700,000 Americans have been taking Baycol.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Baycol on June 26, 1997, and Bayer released it to the U.S. market
on February 18, 1998. Baycol is a member of the 'statin' class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Statins are taken by
millions of Americans. Baycol makes cholesterol levels drop by blocking an enzyme required in its synthesis.
The first U.S. Baycol injury was reported in January, 2000, raising questions as to why Baycol wasn't recalled sooner.
The number of cases of rhabdomyolysis rose markedly after the 0.8 milligram dose of Baycol was introduced in August of
that year.
Baycol is a member of the 'statin' class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. All the statin drugs carry a small risk of
rhabdomyolysis, but with Baycol serious cases of the disorder are ten times more common.
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