AstraZeneca settlement offer Seroquel – far too little, and far too late for those permanently injured

AstraZeneca’s settlement offer in principle – far too little, and far too late for those permanently injured by Seroquel.

Let me send out an Urgent Message to all those injured by AstraZeneca and their Drug Seroquel – do not accept this settlement chump change or let these criminals walk away unscathed – You must demand a fair and equitable settlement that will meet your medical needs into the foreseeable future and nothing less.

It has become quite obvious the Law firms that are making this sleazy backroom deal are only looking out for themselves and their own greedy pockets, and don’t give a flying duck about your injury, suffering, and ultimately your best interest.

Most have heard of this reported settlement in principle for 17,500 lawsuits against AstraZeneca for a reported 198 million dollars. This figure works out to approximately 11,000 dollars and pocket change for each claim, minus 40% in lawyers’ fees.

Now if you were just catching a glimpse of the headline news this would sound like a pretty good deal correct. So let’s break this offer down. Most of these claims are related to diabetes caused by Seroquel use ( diabetes is a lifetime condition that effects the quality and duration of the inflicted) . Others are in this litigation for conditions such as pancreatitis and related conditions including death.

I will assume you would agree that 11,000 dollars minus lawyer’s fees doesn’t go very far when you have a life long serious medical condition to contend with. Figure out for yourself what doctor’s visits and medication will run the average diabetic per year, and then add in the other dire complications/consequences years down the road.

Do you think you could handle those expenses on 11,000 minus 40% for the lawyers? AstraZeneca has shown once again they don’t give a crap about those they have injured or for the users of their very profitable drugs.

You should really be answering those prior questions in your mind, because it is you the tax payer and not AstraZeneca that will be footing the bill for those that become to disabled or ill to be productive working members of our society. That is the hidden truth and cost in this torrid corporate scheme after all.

It should make you angry as a citizen of this nation that this criminal corporation that rakes in approximately/estimated 36 billion dollars a year walks away rich beyond imagination and our government gives rubber stamp approval to their thievery and crimes against the citizens of this nation.

If you didn’t know, AstraZeneca is not even an American Company. AstraZeneca corporate headquarters is based in Europe. So our government has categorically sided with a foreign corporation against and over the Health Interest of the American People.

Who would have thought we would see this day come along in our lifetimes?

If you happen to remember AstraZeneca just paid our government 520 million dollars in fines for illegally marketing Seroquel for off label use and Medicare fraud. As recent as July 2010 AstraZeneca was brought to the carpet by the FDA for again marketing Seroquel directly to doctors omitting side effect warnings including diabetes. Links: DDMAC Letter (PDF - 197KB) Promotional Material (PDF - 873KB)

AstraZeneca is also under investigation for criminal bribery in foreign countries by the justice department as you read these very words. link:Exclusive: FCPA Pharma Probe Spans 3 Continents – Main Justice

Do you have to wonder where most of the clinical trials for Seroquel were conducted? If you guessed “overseas in third world countries” you would be correct.

If your wondering why this relates to the Seroquel litigation you would only have to go to the CIA – Corporate Integrity Agreement they signed with the DOJ in their recent 520 million dollars settlement to avoid criminal prosecution. Link: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and AstraZeneca LP Corporate ...

AstraZeneca has already violated this agreement while flaunting their contemptible behavior right in the light of day for everyone to see and should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

So why aren’t they being held accountable? Because AstraZeneca has your government seemingly bought and paid for, as they have funneled mountains of cash and influence peddling into the House, Senate, FDA, CDC, NIH, and yes their influence reaches all the way to the doors of the White House and beyond. You should be asking your elected representatives who they really represent, and then check their contribution report sheets for their stack of cash from Pharma and their very deep pocketed lobby firms.

May I remind you that this isn’t just about Seroquel, it’s about everyone’s health and safety. How many have died or been permanently disabled from drugs that are now banned by the FDA because they were marketed without the proper safety testing done by their manufactures.

May I remind of the unsafe drugs marketed and then recalled. The following just highlights a very limited few.

• Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate), prescribed to treat diabetes. Banned due to these side effects: liver failure, hepatitis and heart failure

• Baycol (cerivastatin), prescribed to treat high cholesterol. Banned due to these side effects: fatal rhabdomyolysis

• Bextra (valdecoxib), prescribed to treat arthritis. Banned due to these side effects: heart attack and stroke, diseases of the skin

• Dexfenfluramine (fen/Phen) prescribed to treat obesity. Banned because it caused heart valve damage in some users.
• Vioxx prescribed for arthritis pain - Vioxx increased potential for blood clots, heart attack and stroke.

• And the list goes on and on - medications where there is an FDA safety alert Our FDA provided help and a recall far to late to save the lives of so many who died needlessly.

The unfortunate reality is that we the people are the only ones left that can hold AstraZeneca responsible for their continual wrong doing and evil ways.

I would recommend you remember that next time a doctor writes you a prescription. Some of AstraZeneca’s top drugs are Arimidex, Zomig, Nexium, Atacand, Symbicort, Pulmicort, (Seroquel), new drug Brilinta, and FluMist.

Tell your doctor not to prescribe you any AstraZeneca products, since there are many comparable or even better alternatives than using drugs from a Corporation that has shown little or no ethical responsibility, and lacks moral conscience.

What can you do?

AstraZeneca only knows one kind of justice, its called money.

So give AstraZeneca and the countless injured victims of their drugs the true justice they so rightfully deserve

Stop using their drugs, stop sending them your money!

I know there are many pharmaceutical corporations just as deserving of a boycott as AstraZeneca; but we must start by sending a strong message that they all will listen too…after all they could be and will be next….

I've always believed boycotts are the measure of last resort. But without the help of our Government and Department of Justice there is little else that can be done at this juncture. Let's hope the few cases and law firms that finally make it to a court room get a righteous and just verdict from a jury of their peers.