Overview
Terbutaline Autism Lawsuit
After a 2017 ruling by the California Supreme Court, anyone prescribed the drug Brethine (generic name Terbutaline) during pregnancy to prevent premature labor can sue Novartis, one of the drug's manufacturers. This drug may be linked with cases of autism.
Terbutaline is a medication for asthma that was prescribed off-label frequently to women between 2002 and 2011 to keep them from going into labor prematurely. Plaintiffs argue that Novartis knew about the risk of autism associated with Terbutaline and in utero fetuses, but the manufacturer neglected to warn anyone.
It took nearly a decade for Novartis to update the label to include the necessary warning after they learned of the associated risks — the label wasn't changed until after the FDA stepped in to mandate stronger warnings against the use of Terbutaline with pregnant women.
The amount of women who took the drug, unaware of the dangers it posed, is believed to be in the thousands, and it may be liable for a significant amount of injuries to children.
The key case in the Terbutaline autism lawsuit (T. H. v. Novartis Pharms. Corp.) involved fraternal twins who both developed autism — experts say that the likelihood of both twins being born with autism would have been incredibly low without a harmful chemical present.
Terbutaline Lawsuit Statute of Limitations
Due to the 2017 California Supreme Court decision, Novartis can be found liable not only for cases involving the brand name version of Terbutaline that they manufactured (Brethine), but also for cases where expecting mothers took the generic form of the drug.
As a result, even though Novartis stopped manufacturing Terbutaline and sold the product to another manufacturer before the FDA warned against the drug's off-label use, the company can still be held liable for the inadequate warning labels on generic versions of the drug, even if they were not produced by Novartis.
In the case involving the fraternal twins, Novartis had argued that it stopped selling Terbutaline six years before the plaintiffs' mother had taken it, but the court rejected their argument, due to evidence they were aware of the potential dangers of the drug before they sold the brand in 2001.
Find a Terbutaline Lawyer
If you or a loved one were prescribed Terbutaline during pregnancy to prevent a premature labor, find a Terbutaline lawyer to find out about how you can receive the compensation you deserve for injuries caused to you or your children.
Studies have shown that the use of Terbutaline by pregnant women is linked to the development of serious birth defects and injuries in newborn children, including:
- Autism
- Brain Damage
- Learning Disabilities
- Cognitive Impairments
- Motor Dysfunction
Contact the experienced pharmaceutical mass tort attorneys at Singleton Schreiber for a free consultation today. Our mass tort lawyers pride themselves on taking on corporate bullies and big insurance companies for everyday people.
Terbutaline Decision Opens Door for Drug Manufacturer Lawsuits Over Generic Versions of Brand Name Drugs
The US Supreme Court has ruled that manufacturers of generic drugs cannot be held liable for inadequate warning labels because they are required by law for those warning labels to be identical to the corresponding brand name version of the drug.
Instead, victims of improperly labeled generic drugs argued that they should be able to sue the brand-name drug manufacturers since they were ultimately responsible for the content of all warning labels for every generic version of a drug.
The 2017 California State Supreme Court ruling finally gave them the ability to do that, holding brand-name drug manufacturers like Novartis responsible for injuries caused by inadequate warning labels on generic drugs.
Terbutaline (Brethine) May Be Responsible for Autism and Dozens of Deaths Since 1998
In 2011, the FDA began to warn doctors about the use of Terbutaline — an asthma medication — as a treatment for preterm labor, due to the known risks associated, including heart problems that the agency attributed to at least a dozen deaths since 1998, and as many as 16 since 1976.
The FDA also required a black box warning to be placed on the drug label, as well as a contraindication for preterm labor use.
The off-label use of Terbutaline to treat preterm labor was never green-lighted by the FDA, but obstetricians and gynecologists have used the drug for that purpose, leading to multiple patient deaths.
The 2011 warning by the FDA in their "dear colleague" letter was the first time the agency spoke out against the off-label use of the drug.
How can I file a Terbutaline claim?
If you or a loved one were prescribed Terbutaline during pregnancy to treat preterm labor, talk to an expert pharmaceutical mass tort lawyer at Singleton Schreiber today.
We have the experience you need to represent you. Our skilled mass tort attorneys have brought major lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis. We can get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Terbutaline cause Autism?
In 2011, the FDA began to warn doctors about the use of Terbutaline — an asthma medication — as treatment for preterm labor, due to the known risks associated, including autism and heart problems that the agency attributed to at least a dozen deaths since 1998, and as many as 16 since 1976.
The use of Terbutaline by pregnant women is linked to the development of serious birth defects and injuries in newborn children, including Autism, brain damage, learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, and motor dysfunction. - Can Terbutaline cause birth defects?
Studies have shown that the use of Terbutaline by pregnant women is linked to the development of serious birth defects and injuries in newborn children, including:- Autism
- Brain Damage
- Learning Disabilities
- Cognitive Impairments
- Motor Dysfunction
- Is Terbutaline safe during pregnancy?
The use of Terbutaline (or Brethine) during pregnancy has been linked to heart problems and at least a dozen deaths since 1998 — and 16 dating back to the late 1970s. The FDA has warned against using Terbutaline — an asthma medication — to treat preterm labor since 2011. - Is there a Terbutaline lawsuit?
There are currently lawsuits being brought against Novartis, the maker of the brand-name version of the drug (Brethine), for inadequately labeling the product to warn against this off-label usage.
Any women prescribed a generic version of Terbutaline for preterm labor are also able to bring suit against Novartis, according to a 2017 ruling by the California State Supreme Court, since generic manufacturers are required by law to use an identical warning label to the brand name version of the same drug. - How can I file a Terbutaline claim?
If you or a loved one were prescribed Terbutaline during pregnancy to prevent a premature labor, find a Terbutaline lawyer to find out about how you can receive the compensation you deserve for injuries caused to you or your children.
The experienced pharmaceutical mass tort attorneys at Singleton Schreiber can offer you a free consultation today. Our mass tort lawyers pride themselves on taking on corporate bullies and big insurance companies for everyday people.