New twist in theMediator case : the civil liability of Servier laboratories, manufacturer of the drug, was validated by the Court of Cassation on Wednesday September 21 for having left on the market this antidiabetic which “presented a defect” because of “the absence of information” on its risks, reveals theAFP.
Servier laboratories “could not ignore the risks”
Justice considered that “the state of scientific knowledge did not allow the risks of PAH to be ignored (hypertension pulmonary artery) and valve disease induced by benfluorex “, which is none other than the active principle of Mediator.” Insofar as it was seriously documented, the mere suspicion of these risks obliged the producer laboratory to inform patients and healthcare professionals “, underlines the Court of Cassation.
This rejection of the appeal by the Servier laboratories concerned only one complainant, who will have to be compensated up to 7,650 euros. The patient’s lawyer also welcomed this outcome, which “confirms the defect of the Mediator and definitively seals the responsibility of Servier”, she specifies. This health scandal was revealed in 2007 by pulmonologist Irène Frachon. According to a legal expert opinion, this drug, which has been prescribed for more than 30 years to five million people in France, could be the cause of 1,520 to 2,100 long-term deaths.
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