Avandia Cases Transferred to MDL Judge in Philadelphia

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has issued an order to create an MDL for all federal claims alleging injury caused by the diabetes drug Avandia. In Re: Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1871 (JPML).

In an Oct. 16 order, the federal panel said that common questions of fact exist in two claims filed in Louisiana and Puerto Rico alleging that Avandia and two sister drugs increased the risk of cardiovascular injury.

The plaintiffs, who allege that Avandia maker GlaxoSmithKline failed to adequately warn of the heart risks associated with Avandia, …