Actemra (tocilizumab) treats over 760,000 adults and children globally who suffer from either rheumatoid arthritis or giant cell arteritis (GCA). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expedited Actemra’s approval and review process, believing it could fulfill a critical treatment need. But since its market launch in 2010, Actemra’s manufacturer, Roche, came under fire after a wave of unexpected patient deaths. To date, 1,128 individuals died shortly after taking Actemra while others developed severe illnesses or internal injury complications. Since Roche failed to disclose several potentially deadly complications, injured parties are suing in hopes of reaching an Actemra settlement.

How Safety Claims May Influence Current Actemra Settlement Climate

The FDA expedited Actemra’s approval because it supposedly didn’t include the same side effect risks as Humira, Enbrel and Remicade. Those three competitor drugs warn consumers about potentially increased heart attack, stroke and pancreatitis risks, among others. However, clinical studies and a STAT News in-depth rheumatoid drug analysis showed Actemra could actually be more harmful than other medications. But unlike competitors, Actemra does not warn patients about these serious, life-threatening complication risks. Despite commissioning a full Actemra safety report in 2012 showing these heightened side effect risks, the FDA hasn’t yet intervened.

Roche widely markets Actemra as a safer, more effective immunosuppressive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and GCA compared to other drugs. Thanks to its aggressive marketing, doctors may over-prescribe Actemra to patients more susceptible to developing dangerous heart and lung injuries. Doctors also prescribe Actemra “off-label” for about 60 other conditions, driving $1.7 billion in Roche sales revenue for 2016 alone. Clinical safety testing isn’t done for off-label use cases, so those patients are especially vulnerable to undisclosed side effects. Because Roche failed to warn patients about all possible drug dangers, any injured plaintiff may now pursue an Actemra settlement. The doctors STAT interviewed compared Actemra to Merck’s 2004 Vioxx recall, specifically citing negligence for not disclosing known cardiovascular risks.

Roche Paid $67 Million Settlement to Resolve 2016 False Claims Act Lawsuit

Recently, Roche’s subsidiary company, Genentech, agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Justice $67MM over False Claims Act violation allegations. (Genentech also manufactures and distributes Actemra for Roche in the United States.) Genentech allegedly made misleading marketing claims to healthcare providers and consumers about Tarceva’s efficacy for treating non-small cell lung cancer. The fact that Roche and Genentech agreed to settle prior lawsuits regarding misleading claims could influence future Actemra settlement outcomes.

Failure to Warn, Negligence Dominate Actemra Settlement Claim Allegations

Most lawsuits currently demanding an Actemra settlement allege Roche failed to adequately warn consumers about the arthritis drug’s potential dangers. They also allege Roche’s marketing campaigns knowingly misled hundreds of thousands of patients and healthcare providers about Actemra’s safety profile. Despite continued evidence, Roche still claims Actemra is safer than other, less expensive competing medications. However, families of victims who died shortly after receiving intravenous treatments are filing wrongful death claims requesting an Actemra settlement.

Since the case against Roche involving tocilizumab complications is still relatively new, no plaintiff has yet reached an Actemra settlement. However, if plaintiffs file enough cases making similar injury allegations, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigations (JPML) may consolidate them. Centralizing all claims seeking an Actemra settlement under a single MDL may significantly speed up litigation proceedings for injured parties.

Since the statute of limitations varies by state, don’t wait until it’s too late to qualify for an Actemra settlement. If you or a loved one experienced serious, life-threatening Actemra injuries, act now. To start, fill out your free Actemra claim evaluation form online to see if you may qualify in just minutes. Once you’ve submitted your information, an experienced attorney near you will call to discuss your case and Actemra settlement options. We can help you get the justice and pay you deserve if you qualify for financial compensation from Actemra’s manufacturer.