Resources

Syngenta is a multibillion-dollar global agribusiness enterprise that develops and produces genetically modified corn seed. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture determined that a corn line developed by Syngenta, known as Agrisure Viptera (designated as transformation event MIR162—a seed designed to be insect-resistant), was no longer considered “regulated” under the regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms (the GMO Regulations and the Plant Protection Act).

In February 2014, the first case involving AndroGel, a testosterone replacement therapy, was filed against AbbVie Inc., Abbott Laboratories and Eli Lilly and Company (“Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. One month later, Hon. Matthew F. Kennelly ordered that over 30 lawsuits be consolidated in the same court for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.

Propecia is a well-known oral prescription medication used for the treatment of hair loss in men, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia is a genetic disorder that effects 70% of men at some point in their lifetime and approximately 35 million men in the United States. The active ingredient in Propecia is finasteride, a synthetic four-azasteriod compound. Finasteride lowers the level of androgens in men, such as testosterone. Essentially, finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotesterone in the body, which has been implicated in the balding process.

Risperdal is the brand name for risperidone, an atypical or “second generation” antipsychotic drug prescribed to treat schizophrenia and other manifestations of psychotic disorders. Defendants named in the consolidated litigation are the designers, developers, manufacturers, marketers, advertisers, distributors and/or sellers of the drug, including Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”) and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceutica (“Janssen,” and together, “Defendants”).

Fresenius’ website, “GranuFlo is the most-widely prescribed dry acid product in the dialysis industry today.”

The ASR hip implants are metal-on-metal devices made of chromium and cobalt. The devices include a cup that is implanted into the hip with a ball joint that connects to the leg. The ASR metal-on-metal implants reconstruct human hip joints that were diseased due to conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis or fracture. Once implanted, the devices are supposed to last for an average of 15 years. 

Over 1,200 lawsuits involving claims that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer have been filed – mostly in St. Louis and New Jersey. Plaintiffs in the lawsuits involving cosmetic talc-based products allege that long-term use can cause the development of ovarian cancer. Defendants named in the litigation are: the manufacturer of the products, Johnson & Johnson; its parent company, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies; the company that mines the talc for the manufacturer, Imerys Talc America f/k/a Luzenac America; and the trade associate responsible for representing industry interest and lobbying on against regulation of talc.