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As men age, their levels of the hormone testosterone begin to drop. Some men choose to treat this drop in testosterone with the drug called AndroGel. However, one of the possible side-effects of the drug is a possible cardiovascular risk, a risk that some say the company manufacturing the drug, AbbVie, misrepresented. Reuters reports on the second U.S. jury to find that AbbVie misrepresented the risks of using AndroGel.
A Chicago jury awarded more than $140 million to a man who suffered a heart attack after using AndroGel for just two months. The jury was in agreement that the manufacturer, AbbVie, misrepresented the risks of taking the drug.
Jeffrey Konrad had been using AndroGel for two months in 2010 when he suffered a heart attack. He has since recovered.
Konrad and his wife, both of Tennessee, filed the lawsuit in 2015. The verdict is the second victory to come out of some 6,000 similar lawsuits against AbbVie and other companies consolidated in Chicago.
$140 million in punitive damages and $140,000 in compensatory damages were awarded to Konrad. This case is one of a series of test cases being tried to assess the potential damages as well as to plan legal strategies and determine settlement options.
Patients claim that AndroGel can cause heart attacks, strokes, and other injuries.
In another case, determined in July, the jury found that the company misrepresented the risks and awarded $150 million in punitive damages. They did not award compensatory damages, which was unusual. Both sides continue to appeal the verdict.
AbbVie contended that Konrad’s heart attack was brought about by other factors, including obesity and high blood pressure. They intend to appeal the verdict.
In 2015, the FDA required AbbVie to add a warning about the cardiovascular risk to AndroGel’s label.
Have you suffered from an injury due to the use of AndroGel? You may have a case. Let the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call today for a consultation.
