Zinbryta is an MS drug causing terrible health problems. People in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina who suffer from relapsing multiple sclerosis may have been prescribed Zinbryta, which is an oral medication that was approved to treat the disorder in 2016 by the federal Food and Drug Administration. MS is an autoimmune disorder that interrupts some of the neural connections between the body and brain. The drug’s manufacturers are AbbVie and Biogen. These companies have withdrawn Zinbryta from international markets because of reports that the medication may cause inflammatory brain disorders and other problems.
If you have been prescribed this drug and have suffered complications such as an inflammatory brain disorder or infections, you may be entitled to recover compensation. The experienced attorneys at the Lovely Law Firm can review the facts and circumstances of what happened to you and explain the merits of your potential claim.
What is Zinbryta?
The generic of Zinbryta is daclizumab. This drug is a monoclonal antibody medication that people administer to themselves through injections. Monoclonal antibodies target specific cells in the body to destroy while leaving others intact. This medication was approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, which causes many different disabling symptoms of the nervous system. Zinbryta works by stopping the immune system’s production of tissues that produce inflammation and T-cells. It also helps by causing the immune system to generate cells that help to regulate the immune system’s functioning. This drug may be prescribed to people for whom other medications have not been successful. Unfortunately, however, Zinbryta may cause serious complications and has been included in a risk evaluation program because of reports that it might cause severe liver damage and other problems.
Side effects of Zinbryta
On March 2, 2018, Abbvie and Biogen announced that they were voluntarily withdrawing Zinbyrta from international markets after it had only been available for two years. The drug was given a black-box warning by the FDA because of numerous reports of serious complications that have been suffered by people who were prescribed the drug. The global withdrawal of this drug resulted from reports of complications such as inflammatory brain disorders, liver injuries, liver failure, infections, and severe skin reactions.
The attorneys at the Lovely Law Firm are accepting Zinbryta claims for the following types of complications and injuries:
- Medication-induced hepatitis
- Liver failure and liver injury
- Inflammatory brain disorder
- Encephalitis
- Meningoencephalitis
- Wrongful death
- Serious infections
- Erythema multiforme major or Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Investigation by the FDA and EMA
By March 2018, the FDA had received around 1,200 adverse event reports from people who had been prescribed Zinbryta. Out of those reports, 25 deaths occurred, and 631 were considered to be serious. This caused the FDA to investigate the drug to reassess its risk profile. As a result, the FDA initiated a risk evaluation and mitgation strategy because of the large number of serious side effects. The drug’s potential for serious complications and risks should be a concern to anyone who has been prescribed it.
The decision to withdraw the drug occurred around the same time that the European Medicines Agency recommended that all doctors stop all forms of treatment with Zinbryta and that they should instead prescribe different medications to patients. The EMA’s decision followed seven people in Germany who suffered inflammatory brain disorders and one in Spain. The EMA’s role in the European Union is similar to the FDA’s role in the U.S. The EMA also recommended that the doctors complete follow-up appointments with patients who had taken Zinbryta to monitor them for signs of liver damage or inflammation of the brain.
Before the medication was withdrawn from the global market, approximately 8,000 people around the world were prescribed it. While it has been taken off of the market, many people who were prescribed the drug have suffered serious complications.
Other side effects of Zinbryta
In addition to the serious complications of Zinbryta, some other side effects of this drug include the following:
- Susceptibility to influenza
- Upper respiratory infection
- Eczema
- Rash
- Skin inflammation
- Bronchitis
- Headache
- Urinary tract infection
- Nausea
- Dark urine
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Seizures
- Depression
- Fever
Some of these symptoms are indications of serious complications such as encephalitis and liver damage. If you suffer from any of these symptoms after taking a Zinbryta prescription for MS, you should see your doctor immediately.
Damages in a Zinbryta lawsuit
Damages are monetary awards that are meant to compensate people for their losses. The amount of money that might be available to you will depend on the extent and severity of your injuries. An experienced lawyer at the Lovely Law Firm can consult with experts, including economists, doctors, and others to properly value your claim.
Damages may generally be divided into two main categories. Special damages are monetary amounts that you might recover for your economic losses, including the following:
- Past and future medical costs related to your injuries
- Past income losses and your future reduction in your ability to earn a living
- Rehabilitation costs
- Prescription costs
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
General damages are damages that you might recover for your noneconomic losses. These types of losses may be more difficult to value and include the following:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional anguish
- Disability
- Loss of consortium for spouses
- Other damages
Your attorney can explain the different types of damages that might be available to you after evaluating and investigating your claim.
Get help from The Lovely Law Firm
If you have suffered serious complications after taking Zinbryta in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, you should contact the legal professionals at The Lovely Law Firm to learn about the merits of your claim and whether you might be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your losses through a lawsuit. To schedule a consultation, contact us at 843.839.4111