In the last decade or so, there have been numerous open class action lawsuits related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Some of these lawsuits have been brought against pharmaceutical companies that manufacture drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The lawsuits generally allege that the companies failed to properly warn patients and healthcare providers about the potential risks and side effects of these drugs.
There have also been class action lawsuits brought against long-term care facilities, alleging that the facilities failed to provide adequate care for residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. These lawsuits generally claim that the facilities did not properly staff their facilities, failed to provide adequate training for their employees, or failed to properly monitor and treat residents with dementia.
Here are a few examples of class action lawsuits related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and their settlements:
- Namenda and Memantine Price Fixing Open Class Action: This class action settlement is related to allegations of price fixing and anti-competitive behavior by pharmaceutical companies that manufacture Alzheimer’s drugs. The lawsuit claims that the companies conspired to artificially inflate the prices of these drugs, which were used by millions of Americans.
The settlement provides payments to individuals and entities who purchased the drugs at inflated prices during a certain time period. The exact amount of the payment will depend on the specific drugs purchased and the volume of purchases. - Aricept: In 2006, Pfizer and Eisai, the makers of the Alzheimer’s drug Aricept, agreed to pay $29 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed the companies failed to properly warn patients and healthcare providers about the potential side effects of the drug.
- Namenda: In 2015, Allergan, the maker of the Alzheimer’s drug Namenda, agreed to pay $125 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed the company engaged in unlawful marketing practices by promoting the drug for off-label uses.
- Seroquel: In 2011, AstraZeneca agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed the company failed to properly warn patients and healthcare providers about the potential risks and side effects of the antipsychotic drug Seroquel, including an increased risk of diabetes.
