Drug Humira Causes Veteran's Near Death and Debilitating Fungal Infection

MEMPHIS, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Humira defect lawyers filed a lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories in federal court today claiming Abbott's blockbuster drug, Humira, caused a fungal infection resulting in the near-death of a Tennessee man.  

Army veteran Fred Delano was prescribed Humira in October of 2008 for psoriatic arthritis.  After taking the drug for two and-a-half months, Delano was hospitalized and diagnosed with disseminated histoplasmosis, an extremely dangerous side effect infection Abbott Laboratories knew could affect Humira users but failed to adequately warn them about.  

"Humira is a powerful and potentially dangerous drug. In the absence of proper warnings, it is impossible for a patient to make a well-informed decision whether or not to take a medication," said drug defect attorney Andy Vickery.  "Even when the FDA told Abbott to warn patients, the company chose sales over safety and delayed the warnings. Consequently my client received no warning that the drug he was about to take to help his arthritis would nearly kill him."

In September of 2008, just weeks before Delano was prescribed Humira, the FDA issued an alert to the manufacturers of arthritis drugs that include TNF blockers, like Humira, to provide new information about the risks of drug-induced fungal infections.  

Histoplasmosis is an extremely dangerous fungal infection commonly seen in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, particularly in light of recent flooding.  The FDA alert came after the FDA reviewed 240 reports of TNF-blocker induced histpolasmosis cases, resulting in twelve deaths.  Shockingly, Abbott Laboratories waited until November of 2009 to update their Black Box Warnings, and May 17, 2010 to send a warning letter to doctors.

Humira (Adalimumab) is a class of biologic drugs known as TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) blockers. It works by blocking naturally occurring proteins that cause inflammation.  However, research has shown that taking drugs like Humira can compromise the immune system and can have a devastating and even deadly effect resulting in serious infections, cancer, allergic reactions, Hepatitis B virus reactivation, nervous system problems, heart failure, blood issues and certain immune reactions.

Humira is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, crohn's disease, and plaque psoriasis.  With 2010 sales of $6.5 billion, Humira is Abbott's flagship drug.

Perdue Kidd & Vickery is a national law firm of Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyers.  The law practice is based in Houston, TX.   Further information is available at www.HumiraJustice.com. View an educational video about Humira fungal infections.

SOURCE Perdue Kidd & Vickery