Seroquel and Diabetes

        The first bellwether MDL Seroquel trial is almost underway in Orlando, Florida (1/22/09).   Seroquel’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca, is trying to do what drug companies do to win cases: exclude Plaintiff’s experts.   In this case, the maker of Seroquel seeks to exclude from the lawsuit the testimony of Plaintiff’s expert Jennifer Marks, an endocrinologist who is expected to testify that Seroquel patients have a 400% increased risk of developing diabetes when compared with first-generation medications in its class.  Dr. Marks is relying, in part, on a study published in Psychiatric Services in 2004, which reported increased risk in patients on Seroquel.    Dr. Marks will further testify that the medical literature over the last 50 years has demonstrated that drugs in Seroquel’s class of drug have been known to cause diabetes.
        In fact, according to AstraZeneca's own data on Seroquel, more patients had increased cholesterol, triglycerides and weight levels on Seroquel than did patients taking a placebo. AstraZeneca's data also shows that 10.7% of Seroquel patients had blood sugar levels indicative of diabetes, which is more than twice as many as patients on placebos.
        The interesting thing about the Seroquel lawsuits is that in spite of the fact that over 13,000 lawsuits have been filed, Seroquel continues to be available and prescribed to patients.  (In an unrelated story, AstraZeneca makes billions of dollars from Seroquel.)
        Many Seroquel diabetes lawyers believe that Dr. Marks will be permitted to testify and a successful outcome to this case may lead to a settlement in the Seroquel class action lawsuits. If you think you may have a Seroquel type 2 diabetes case and would like to be included in the Seroquel diabetes class action, you can call one of our Seroquel class action lawyers for a free consultation at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free online Seroquel consultation.

Related Seroquel Links

Background of the Seroquel lawsuits
Overview and Update on Seroquel Lawsuits (Seroquel litigation overview)
Diabetes and Seroquel (more detailed discussion of the link between Seroquel and diabetes)
MDL Seroquel Ruling (judge agrees that Plaintiff's specific causation expert can testify)
Free Internet Consultation (free evaluation of your case at 800-553-8082 or by email)