Overview
Janssen lawsuit over Elmiron blindness and Pigmentary Maculopathy – if you have Elmiron eye damage or Pentosan side effects, contact Singleton Schreiber to seek compensation.
Current Janssen Pharmaceuticals lawsuits attest bladder medication Elmiron (generic Pentosan) may cause eye damage including Pigmentary Maculopathy and blindness, according to studies dating back to 2018. According to plaintiffs, Elmiron manufacturer Johnson & Johnson was aware of the potential side effects and failed to disclose them to the public.
The Janssen lawsuits are demanding the company compensate victims for damages, including medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals Lawsuit: Pigmentary Maculopathy
The Janssen lawsuit is a multidistrict litigation (MDL) suit taking plaintiffs from different parts of the country. The negotiation and settlement process will likely be expedited — suits are expected in January 2023, according to court documents.
Plaintiffs can include anyone who developed eye damage after taking Elmiron to treat the bladder condition Interstitial Cystitis. In many states, the statute of limitations to file a claim is only a year or two, so victims should consult an Elmiron lawyer as soon as possible.
The lawsuit claims Janssen knew of the possible risk of eye damage and other side effects — including blindness — that could result from long-term use of Elmiron but failed to put a warning label on the medication or disclose their findings publicly.
Is Elmiron Safe?
According to researchers, there is profound evidence that Elmiron causes the condition known as Pigmentary Maculopathy. One of the first peer-reviewed articles linking Elmiron to “a novel and possibly avoidable maculopathy” was published in May 2018.
In 2019, Janssen added a warning for Pigmentary Maculopathy with chronic use of Elmiron to Canadian drug labels but failed to warn Americans until a year later.
Johnson & Johnson added a warning for Pigmentary Maculopathy to the label in June 2020, but the drug had already been on the market since 1996 and was recommended for long-term use.
An April 2020 study in the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology published further evidence linking Elmiron with increased risk of eye damage and loss of vision.
What is the timeline for Elmiron Litigation?
According to Elmiron lawsuits, the drugmakers were aware of the risk for eye damage, but they put hundreds of thousands at risk for potential blindness through their negligence. As individual Janssen lawsuits were flooding in from victims who took Elmiron for years, all federal cases were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in December 2020.
Judge Brian R. Martinotti, who is currently overseeing hundreds of federal Elmiron lawsuits in New Jersey, said in an order last May that the court expected the first “bellwether trial in this MDL” to be held around January 2023.
About 273 cases are pending in New Jersey federal court as of July 15, 2021. Lawyers expect to file more than 1,000 Elmiron lawsuits.
What is Elmiron used for?
Elmiron is the only FDA-approved drug for treating the bladder condition, Interstitial Cystitis, which is painful and incurable. Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis include chronic pelvic pain, frequent urination, urinating often or urgently, and pain or pressure in the bladder, urethra, and lower back — including during sexual intercourse. Elmiron is also used to treat Osteoarthritis.
Elmiron is prescribed on a constant, long-term regimen in order to continue providing relief from these symptoms. Most patients typically take Elmiron for years at a time on a regular basis — usually one 100-mg. capsule three times daily.
The drug’s label mentions that patients may not see benefits for at least the first six months.
In the 2018 study, 24% of patients showed Pentosan-associated maculopathy, and those who didn’t exhibit macular damage had taken lower doses of the drug over shorter periods of time.
Long-term use of Elmiron causes small, dark spots to appear on the macula and retina, hence the term “Pigmentary Maculopathy.”
Elmiron not recalled due to undisclosed pentosan side effects
Elmiron has not been recalled, even despite years worth of studies reporting its links to eye damage, but the studies continue to mount.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also not issued any indication that Elmiron is being investigated or recommended for any regulatory actions.
Elmiron side effects include:
- Pigmentary Maculopathy
- Retinal Maculopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Blurred vision
- Distorted vision
- Difficulty reading
- Eye pain
- Issues adjusting to darkness
- Vision disturbances
- Vision loss or blindness
- Pink Eye
- Optic Neuritis
- Amblyopia
- Nystagmus
Elmiron side effects not related to vision include:
- Skin rashes or bruising
- Hair loss (Alopecia)
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Weight gain
- Swelling
- Dizziness
- Liver problems
- Bloody stool
- Diarrhea
- Reflux
Compensation for Eliron Blindness or Eye Damage
If you have experienced any side effects after long-term use of Elmiron for Interstitial Cystitis or Osteoarthritis, be sure to consult your doctor or ophthalmologist, especially if symptoms persist.
If you would like to seek compensation through an Elmiron lawsuit, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Singleton Schreiber for a free consultation to discuss your options.
At Singleton Schreiber, our mass tort lawyers are dedicated to working hard for our clients so that corporate wrongdoers are held responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Elmiron used for?
Elmiron is a bladder medication used to treat the condition Interstitial Cystitis (IC) It is the only FDA-approved treatment for IC, which is painful and incurable. Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis include chronic pelvic pain, frequent urination, urinating often or urgently, and pain or pressure in the bladder, urethra, and lower back — including during sexual intercourse. - Is it safe to take Elmiron?
Several recent studies have shown a link between long-term use of Elmiron and serious eye damage including Pigmentary Maculopathy and blindness. - Are doctors still prescribing Elmiron?
Despite years worth of studies reporting its links to eye damage, doctors are still prescribing Elmiron, which is still FDA-approved.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet issued any indication that Elmiron is being investigated or recommended for any regulatory actions. - Is there a class action lawsuit against Elmiron?
The Elmiron legal action is a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) against the drug’s manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Johnson & Johnson. More than 270 Elmiron lawsuits have been filed under the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, where the federal cases are currently being consolidated. - When will Elmiron Lawsuits go to trial?
Judge Brian R. Martinotti, who is currently overseeing hundreds of federal Elmiron lawsuits in New Jersey, said in an order last May that the court expected the first “bellwether trial in this MDL” to be held around January 2023. - Who can join a lawsuit against Elmiron?
Anyone who has been prescribed Elmiron for Interstitial Cystitis or Osteoarthritis and experienced eye damage — including Pigmentary Maculopathy or blindness — can join the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) case against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Elmiron Interstitial Cystitis medication. - How many Elmiron Lawsuits have been filed?
About 273 cases are pending in New Jersey federal court before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti as of July 15, 2021. Lawyers expect to file more than 1,000 Elmiron lawsuits.