CBC News: Quebec man launches lawsuit against antidepressant maker
Quebec man launches lawsuit against antidepressant maker
Last Updated Tue, 28 Oct 2003 17:57:09
TORONTO - A Quebec man who took an antidepressant that is being withdrawn
from the Canadian market has filed a $200-million class-action lawsuit
against the manufacturers.
Steve Ledyit filed a statement of claim in an Ontario court this week saying
he was prescribed Serzone four years ago when he was living in Barrie, Ont.
Shortly after he began taking the drug, the document says, Ledyit developed
symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as liver damage.
The statement of claim also says that scientific studies have linked the
active ingredient in Serzone to serious and sometimes fatal cases of liver
damage.
Allegations in a statement of claim have not been tested in court.
The claims names Bristol-Myers Squibb, the maker of name brand Serzone, as
well as makers of the generic version: Apotex, Genpharm, Nupharm,
Pharmascience, Ratiopharm and Novopharm.
A spokesman for Bristol Myers-Squibb wouldn't comment on the case.
The court claim says problems with Serzone first came up in 1994, the year
the drug was first available in Canada.
Reports of liver problems linked to the drug have increased steadily around
the world, the claim says.
Joel Rochon, one of Ledyit's lawyers, says Serzone and its generic brands
were removed from European markets this year, but are still available in
Canada.
But Health Canada declared earlier this year that Serzone will be withdrawn
as of Nov. 27.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Copyright � CBC 2003
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