HAGENS BERMAN

Hagens Berman vigorously pursues litigation that improves the quality and fairness of our healthcare and prescription drug system. Representing individuals and the nation's most forward-thinking public-interest groups, we seek to shine the light of public scrutiny on these industries and their practices.

Second to none in this field, Hagens Berman's attorneys have filed and argued suits against dozens of major drug companies, giving them extensive litigation and courtroom experience.

Prescription Drug Cases

For decades, brand name prescription drug makers have consistently been among the most profitable industries in America. While pharmaceutical companies become richer, consumers and payors are paying higher costs for prescription drugs.

This overwhelming and dramatic rise in prescription drug prices has spurred several consumer interest organizations representing sections to root out collusive and profit-driven schemes within the drug industry. Hagens Berman seeks out, builds consensus and combines the efforts of these organizations to effectively battle pricing schemes, off-label marketing, and other illegal activities by drug companies. We use these organizations' membership and research to bring significant pressure on defendants.

Some of the groups the firm has filed litigation on behalf of include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); CALPIRG; Community Catalyst; the Congress of California Seniors; Connecticut Citizen Action Group; Health Care for All; the Prescription Access Litigation (PAL) Project; and USAction.

Our drug litigation focuses on pharmaceutical companies' unlawful price inflation, filing of false secondary patents that block competitive generic drugs, and drug promotion for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, commonly known as "off-label" uses.

Cases:

• AstraZeneca - Filed on behalf of consumers of the drug Nexium, this suit accuses AstraZeneca of using misleading advertising.
• Enzyte - Filed on behalf of Enzyte, the lawsuit alleges that manufacturer Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals (Berkeley) knowingly used false and unproven claims to lure men into purchasing the male enhancement supplement.
• Estratest - This suit against Solvay Pharmaceuticals claims that the drug maker has engaged in false and illegal marketing of Estratest, a hormone replacement therapy drug the company has been marketing without FDA approval.
• Pfizer (Celebrex) - Filed on behalf of Celebrex consumers, the suit alleges that the drug's distributor, Pfizer, Inc. launched an aggressive and misleading marketing campaign to promote Celebrex, while failing to warn consumers that the drug poses risks of cardiovascular problems.
• Vioxx - Filed on behalf of Vioxx consumers in California, the suit contends that the drug's distributors, Merck, knowingly withheld information of Vioxx's increased risk for heart attack and stroke.