Veozah, also known as fezolinetant, is a non-hormonal medication celebrated as a breakthrough in the treatment of menopausal hot flashes. However, this drug has been associated with rare cases of severe liver damage. People nationwide are filing cases against Astellas Pharma, the manufacturer of Veozah, alleging the company was aware or should have been aware of the potential harms linked with Veozah usage.
Litigants also claim that the company didn’t adequately warn consumers and doctors about the severe risks linked with Veozah usage. Although litigation is still in its early stages, more people are expected to file lawsuits in the coming months because of the widespread use of this menopause drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises you to stop taking this medication immediately if you start exhibiting any signs of liver injury and contact your doctor.
FDA Issues Warning on Serious Liver Injury Risk from Veozah
Veozah is a non-hormonal drug that reduces hot flashes caused by menopause. The medication works by blocking neurokinin B, a brain chemical that triggers hot flashes during menopause.
The FDA first approved Veozah in May 2023, but the agency has issued its most serious warning about the menopause medication.
In September 2023, the FDA warned doctors and consumers about the prospect of Veozah causing rare but severe liver damage. The warning stated that the menopause drug used to treat and manage menopausal night sweats and hot flashes can cause liver injury.
The warning came following reports of severe Veozah liver damage in a woman who had taken the drug for 40 days.
The agency says women taking this non-hormonal medication might require regular blood testing to check for indicators of liver issues.
Occasionally, the medication might severely injure the liver, and patients experiencing nausea, fatigue, unusual itching, light-colored stools, vomiting, yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine should inform their health provider and stop taking the drug immediately.
Understanding How Veozah Works and Its Potential Dangers
Veozah, a neurokinin 3 receptor ligand, blocks neurokinin B from attaching to neurons in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that regulates body temperature. This regularizes activity in the brain’s thermoregulatory area, relieving the severity and frequency of vasomotor signs during menopause, including hot flashes.
Lower estrogen levels during menopause can trigger excessive signals in the hypothalamus, causing vasomotor symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes. Veozah aids in body temperature regulation, easing the severity and frequency of these signs.
The drug was the first non-hormonal alternative for treating and managing menopause symptoms, often a preferred option for women who won’t or can’t use hormonal replacement treatments.
Patients may begin experiencing symptom relief one week after taking this medicine. During clinical trials, 81-95% of women reported a 50% or more reduction in vasomotor symptom (VSM) frequency.
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Veozah-Related Liver Damage
Taking this menopause medication can potentially elevate liver blood test values. In the long run, this may potentially cause severe liver injury, disrupting the organ’s ability to function correctly.
Symptoms and signs of liver damage from Veozah might include:
- Dark urine
- Abdominal swelling
- Itching
- Fatigue
- Light-colored stools
- Jaundice–yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
Rare but severe Veozah side effects include:
- Liver problems. This non-hormonal drug can increase the risk of damage in patients because of hepatotoxicity (because of how it’s metabolized), metabolism overload, individual susceptibility, and oxidative stress.
- Debilitating allergic reactions: Signs and symptoms include a racing heart, breathing issues, swollen lymph nodes, dizziness, joint pain, and hives. Seek immediate medical treatment if you experience any of these symptoms.
Again, the FDA advises that individuals taking Veozah undergo more regular liver blood testing to uncover potential issues early. This testing should be conducted each month for the first two months of taking the medication, followed by frequent testing at three, six, and nine months.
If you start to exhibit signs of liver damage from Veozah, stop taking the drug immediately and contact your health provider. Due to the potential risks linked with usage, Veozah might not suited for patients with underlying liver problems.
Updated FDA Guidelines for Liver Monitoring in Veozah Patients
The FDA added a warning about the probable risk of liver problems to the existing warning about elevated liver enzymes. The agency also recommended that patients undergo liver blood testing before being prescribed this menopause drug. These updates were made after the agency reevaluated a report of a woman who claimed she developed elevated liver enzymes and liver damage symptoms after taking the drug for around 40 days.
Additionally, the agency recommended that patients and doctors increase the regularity of liver blood testing. This would require monthly blood testing for the two months following Veozah’s administration and then at three, six, and nine months of treatment. The updated FDA guidelines also require patients to discontinue medicine immediately and contact their doctor if signs of liver problems occur.
Who is Eligible to File a Veozah Liver Injury Lawsuit?
Many post-menopausal women are expected to qualify for a Veozah compensation lawsuit because of the extensive use of the medicine. To be entitled to file a Veozah liver damage lawsuit, you must have been prescribed the medication for treatment or management of severe or moderate hot flashes. You must also be able to prove you used the drug and have been diagnosed with liver injury or a similar condition like liver failure or elevated liver enzymes after using the medication.
Qualification criteria in a Veozah liver damage lawsuit:
- Veozah use: A doctor must have prescribed you to take this menopause drug to treat and manage moderate or severe hot flashes, and you must have taken it.
- Proof of Veozah usage: To prove you used this medication, you must have pharmacy receipts, medical records, or prescription documents.
- Liver damage diagnosis: You must have also been found with liver injury or similar issues during or after using the drug, such as jaundice, liver failure, and elevated liver enzymes (Aspartate transaminase and Alanine transaminase).
The seriousness of liver injury and its effects on quality of life and health are fundamental facets of the strength of the Veozah lawsuit. Plaintiffs who suffered permanent liver damage, had liver transplants or were hospitalized might have stronger cases.
Potential Compensation Available in Veozah Lawsuits
It’s still too early in the legal process to accurately predict the potential settlement and payout value of Veozah lawsuits. However, we can provide some estimates of the potential Veozah compensation based on the potential damages.
Possible compensation in a Veozah liver damage case:
- Past medical expenses: These include costs of liver damage treatment, such as medical tests, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications.
- Future medical bills include ongoing monitoring or treatment costs, such as medications, liver transplants, or rehabilitation.
- Lost wages: This compensation is for wages you lost as you recuperated from liver damage.
- Physical pain: This compensation is for distress from liver injury, chronic conditions, or surgeries.
- Permanent disability: Damages for irreversible liver damage and any transplant requirements.
- Emotional stress: Compensation for depression, anxiety, or psychological distress because of the injury.
- Disfigurement: Compensation for scarring or physical disfigurement from treatment.
- Loss of consortium: Damges for adverse effects on relationships with a partner or spouse because of the injury
- Punitive damages: Compensation granted if Astellas Pharma is deemed reckless or negligent in warning consumers and doctors about liver damage risks
- Wrongful death (where applicable): Damages for families of deceased persons, covering burial expenses, emotional distress, and loss of support.
Veozah liver injury attorneys estimate that successful Veozah lawsuits in the top settlement tier may have a settlement value of $300,000 to $750,000. Veozah lawsuits in the second settlement tier may attract a settlement value of $100,000 to $200,000, and lawsuits involving minimal liver damage may attract payouts of $50,000 or less.
The Importance of Legal Representation in Veozah Cases
Product liability lawsuits, especially those involving pharmaceutical injuries, are incredibly complex. Drug makers often have ample legal resources and teams of lawyers working to reduce their liability. Hence, victims require skilled attorneys who understand the nuances of these claims and can successfully challenge the manufacturer’s legal defenses.
A Veozah liver damage attorney will handle complex aspects of the lawsuit, including gathering evidence, communicating with medical experts, and negotiating with Astellas Pharma’s legal team. Also, they’ll ensure you meet all legal deadlines and that your lawsuit complies with the applicable statutes of limitations. The statute of limitation for Veozah lawsuits varies by state, but it typically ranges from one to six years from the date of the liver injury diagnosis.
Without a skilled Veozah liver injury attorney, you may receive inadequate Veozah lawsuit compensation or have your lawsuit dismissed because of procedural errors.
Gathering Evidence to Support Your Veozah Liver Damage Claim
You must gather elaborate evidence to substantiate your claims to receive the compensation you deserve. You’ll need proof like medical documents showing Veozah’s prescription and liver injury diagnosis, expert medical testimonies, and liver function test results. Thus, working with a product reliability attorney is vital to determine the evidence you need to collect to prove your allegations.
Evidence required in a Veozah liver damage lawsuit:
- Prescription documents: These records prove you had a prescription and took the menopause medication. Prescription records may include medication logs or pharmacy receipts.
- Doctor’s notes: Medical evaluations linking Veozah to your condition.
- Liver function test results: Medical documents monitoring liver enzyme levels before and during medication use.
- Liver damage diagnosis: This includes medical documentation confirming liver injury.
- Causality evidence: Evidence that proves the causes of liver injury.
- Use timeline: Records showing when you started and stopped taking the medication and when your condition was diagnosed.
- Current and future medical bills: You’ll also need records showing your bills for liver damage treatment and projected costs for ongoing liver treatment.
- Proof of lost wages: Wage loss records, including tax returns and pay stubs.
- Liver monitoring compliance: Records of frequent liver function testing during Veozah use.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with liver damage after taking the non-hormonal medication might be eligible for Veozah lawsuit compensation against Astellas Pharma. Veozah lawsuit compensation may cover medical costs, lost income, pain suffering, loss of consortium, and many more.
The Legal Process for Filing a Veozah Lawsuit
Under product liability laws, people injured by Veozah can sue Astellas Pharma. These lawsuits often argue that Astellas Pharma didn’t adequately warn consumers about the risks of Veozah, distributed a faulty product, or negligently produced and marketed the medicine.
Procedure to file a Veozah liver damage lawsuit:
- Consult a lawyer specializing in product liability litigation. Find a skilled Veozah liver injury attorney to assess your claims and determine your eligibility to file a Veozah lawsuit. The attorney will evaluate your prescription documents, medical history, and liver damage diagnosis.
- Collect relevant medical records.
- Ensure you meet legal deadlines. Again, the statute of limitations for filing a Veozah liver damage lawsuit varies from state to state, but generally, it ranges between one to six years of your medical diagnosis. Hence, it’s vital to consult a Veozah attorney to ensure you file your claim within the legal deadlines to avoid losing the chance to get compensated.
- Determine grounds for filing a lawsuit. Possible legal grounds in Veozah lawsuits include negligence by Astellas Pharma, product liability, and failure to warn doctors and consumers.
- File your claim in court.
- Pre-trial discovery. Plaintiffs and Astras Pharma will collect additional evidence, such as depositions and medical documents.
- Settlement negotiations. Your lawyer might negotiate with Astellas Pharma before your case goes to trial.
- Court trial (where necessary). If settlement negotiations fail, your lawsuit will go to trial.
- Receive monetary compensation.
Holding Pharmaceutical Companies Accountable for Drug Injuries
To hold a pharmaceutical company, like Astellas Pharma, liable for drug injuries, the plaintiff must prove that the medication injured them and was defective. This generally requires the complainant to demostrate negligence in the medication’s design, manufacture, or marketing. However, the meticulous testing and approval process employed by regulatory agencies like the FDA may complicate these lawsuits. FDA approval doesn’t protect any company from liability, but it can influence a judge’s view of whether a medication’s benefits outweigh its potential risks.
Regulatory compliances play an imperative role in influencing pharmaceutical liability. Although adherence to FDA recommendations can defend against product liability claims, this isn’t a fail-safe. Nonetheless, evidence of non-compliance or regulatory violations can be a fundamental factor in proving liability.
Pharmaceutical companies may employ various defenses in these lawsuits. They may argue that the plaintiff misused the medication, that the injury suffered was because of an existing medical condition, or that the side effects were known but considered acceptable risks given the medicine’s benefits. Demonstrating a connection between the medication and an adverse side effect is daunting, especially in the case of long-term effects.
Because of what is at stake, complainants should work with a skilled attorney who can defend their rights when they need to file complicated lawsuits because of their injuries.
Next Steps if You Suspect Veozah-Related Liver Problems
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience Veozah-related liver problems. Your doctor will order you to take a blood test to check the symptoms of liver damage. Also, they’ll determine if it’s safe for you to continue with the drug.
If your doctor proves that your liver problems are associated with Veozah, then it’s advisable to contact an experienced Voezah liver damage attorney. A lawyer familiar with pharmaceutical negligence cases can advise you on your next course of legal action.
Contact a Veozah Liver Damage Lawyer
If you were diagnosed with liver damage after taking Veozah, you might be eligible for financial compensation. It’s imperative to contact a Veozah liver damage attorney as soon as possible. When choosing a Veozah liver injury attorney, key factors to consider include track record, experience, and whether they provide a customized approach.
Often, attorneys handle Veozah lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to pay any fees upfront. You’ll only pay your attorney if you receive financial compensation. Learn more and sign up to stay up-to-date at AllConsumer.com.
