Controversial Diabetic Medicine could be Removed from the Market

Just released by The New York Times, Avandia, a controversial diabetes medicine, has patients suffering heart attacks and heart failure each month, according to confidential government reports that recommend the drug be removed from the market.

The reports, obtained by The New York Times, say that if every diabetic now taking Avandia were instead given a similar pill named Actos, about 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure would be averted every month because Avandia can hurt the heart. Avandia, intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, is known as rosiglitazone and was linked to 304 deaths during the third quarter of 2009.

The internal F.D.A. reports are part of a fierce debate within the agency over what to do about Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. Some agency officials want the drug withdrawn because they believe there is a safer alternative; others insist that studies of the drug provide contradictory information and that Avandia should continue to be an option for doctors and patients. GlaxoSmithKline said that it had studied Avandia extensively and that “scientific evidence simply does not establish that Avandia increases” the risk of heart attacks.

For more information, please call 1-877 MESSALAW

YAZ Birth Control Possibly Linked to Hazardous Side Effects

Studies have shown that the ingredients contained in YAZ®, Yasmin® and Ocella® have been linked to various forms of severe side-effects. Reportedly, these side-effects include: heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (also known as DVT or blood clots), internal organ damage (including gallbladder damage), myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism.

Recently, a large number of YAZ lawsuits have been designated as Mass Tort or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) cases. Studies show that one of the more serious YAZ side effects, Yasmin, and Ocella use is Deep Vein Thrombosis, which is commonly known as DVT. DVT is a condition characterized by the presence of a blood clot in a vein, usually in the legs or pelvis. DVT does not always show symptoms, but may cause swelling and pain in the affected extremities. If the blood clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, it may cause a Pulmonary Embolism - this potentially fatal condition is commonly known as a PE.



If you feel you have experienced any side-effects from taking YAZ or Yasmin (or the generic brand, Ocella), you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort/ Pharmaceutical Litigation attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any claims that you might have against the YAZ, Yasmin or Ocella manufacturers.

For more information, please call 1-877 MESSALAW

Allreds Does Voluntary Recall on Baby Products

Allreds Design has issued a voluntary recall of baby bracelets and infant pacifiers, after problems were identified with high levels of lead, according to a prnewswire.com report. For major health concerns, lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

The recall includes Allreds Design brand baby bracelets and pacifier clips. The bracelets are sold in sizes 0-6 months, 1-4 years, and 4-8 years of age. The baby bracelets and pacifier clips have crystal and plastic beads in various colors with a metal clasp.

Allreds Design has received only one report of a 10-month-old child who was treated by a physician for elevated lead levels. Parents are advised to remove these items from their children and infants, and to contact Allreds for a replacement.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell them about it by visiting their website.

For more information, please call 1-887 MESSALAW

Toyota Recalls Prius Over Brake Problems

Toyota confirmed this morning that they would initiate a volunteer recall of the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Lexus HS 250h in order to stem concerns about braking problems with those vehicles.

The company said that the recall would include a software update for the braking system on roughly 130,000 Prius models and 15,000 models. The Prius is the most popular hybrid model sold in America, while the HS 250h is a variant of the Prius sold under Toyota's premium Lexus line. Only Prius and HS 250 h models made after May 2009 are included in the recall; first- and second-generation Prius models are not included in the recall.

Owners of the involved 2010 Prius vehicles will be notified by mail. Toyota recommends following their recall website at http://www.toyota.com/recall or contact 1 877 MESSALAW for more information.

Obama officials step up pressure on Toyota

Obama officials step up pressure on Toyota

The Obama administration has increased the pressure on the Toyota Motor Corp. Last Wednesday, the administration addressed a range of safety issues as investors and consumers reacted to the deepening crisis for the world's largest automaker.

In another potential knock on the company’s reputation for quality, Toyota said dealers in both the United States and Japan had reported complaints about the brakes in its new model Prius hybrid. Toyota said late Wednesday it has received 77 complaints in Japan over Prius brake problems.

Toyota pulled eight of its most popular models including the Camry, Corrola and Rav4 from U.S. showrooms in the last week of January after it launched a recall for problems with sticky accelerator pedals made by supplier CTS Corp.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has said it will investigate whether Toyota's electronic throttle control system could be part of the problem behind reported instances of uncontrolled acceleration in its vehicles.

Toyota has stated that it has found no other evidence of any safety problems beyond the two past recalls for accelerator pedals that can become stuck and the risk that a loose floormat can trap an accelerator pedal on some models, including the Prius.

The automaker has recalled 8.1 million vehicles for both sets of problems around the world, including 5.5 million in the United States.

Toyota's 1,200 U.S. dealerships have begun to receive shipments of parts needed to fix faulty accelerators and many said they would hire new crews and stay open late to fix recalled cars as quickly as possible over the coming weeks.

For more information, please call 1-877 MESSALAW

UPDATE, Toyota Recall

Toyota Motor Corp. stated that its dealers should get parts to fix a sticky gas pedal problem by the end of this week, to bring an end to a recall that has affected 4.2 million vehicles worldwide.

Due to the Toyota recall of select vehicles on Jan. 21, determining that excess friction in the gas pedal assembly could in rare cases cause the pedals to stick.

Engineers traced the problem to a friction device in the assembly that is supposed to provide the proper pedal "feel" by adding resistance, Toyota said in a statement. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Toyota last week that it was satisfied with the repair plan. Legally Toyota did not need NHTSA's approval, but the company would be unlikely to proceed without the government's blessing.

The recall in the U.S. includes the 2009-10 RAV4 crossover, the 2009-10 Corolla, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2005-10 Avalon, the 2007-10 Camry, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup and the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV. It also has been expanded to another 1.9 million vehicles in Europe and China. All Matrix, Avalon, Tundra and Sequoia models covered by the recall have the faulty pedals.

For more information, please call 1-877 MESSALAW