Ketek® Injury Lawyers: Phillips and Associates
At Phillips and Associates, we believe that the pharmaceutical industry has the responsibility to make sure that its products are not dangerous to the people who use them as prescribed. The Ketek® injury lawyers at our Arizona offices can provide professional and knowledgeable representation to people experiencing serious side effects linked to this product.
Ketek® is an oral antibiotic prescribed for mild or moderate cases of the respiratory infections: acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). It comes in tablet form, taken once a day for about five to seven days. Many people have been treated with Ketek®; it was developed as part of the effort to overcome the increasing resistance of many bacteria to the existing antibiotics.
Ketek® and Liver Damage
Unfortunately, Ketek® has been linked to serious liver damage. It is metabolized mainly in the liver. In January 2006 The Annals of Internal Medicine published a report of three cases of life-threatening liver toxicity. One of these patients died; another required a liver transplant.
If you suspect that you’ve suffered a Ketek®-related injury, contact our lawyers in Arizona regarding your options.
Ketek® was approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of respiratory infections in adults. The FDA has now issued a public health advisory warning telling doctors that Ketek® use should be discontinued in patients showing any signs of liver problems, and stating that people who develop any yellowing of their eyes or skin (jaundice) or blurry vision while they’re taking Ketek® should see a doctor immediately. The FDA has begun an investigation of the serious potential side effects of Ketek®.
A Congressional Request Regarding the Approval of Ketek®
U.S. Congressmen Henry Waxman ( Calif.) and Edward Markey ( Mass.) sent a formal letter to the FDA questioning irregularities in the screening and approval process performed by the FDA prior to its approval of Ketek®, which is manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Aventis. In the letter, the congressmen note that among other serious matters, one of the investigators in a study of the safety of Ketek’s safety pleaded guilty to falsifying data.
The issues surrounding Ketek® and its association with liver injury are complex. Our Ketek® lawyers in the Arizona offices of Phillips and Associates can advise you of your options if you’ve taken Ketek® and subsequently experienced liver problems.
