Before a drug is made public, pharmaceutical companies should do everything in their power to make sure it is safe. And if any possible side effects are discovered during testing, they should be made known to all potential users. If a drug unexpectedly produces dangerous symptoms, then the company selling that drug should be held accountable.
Recently, a spate of lawsuits were filed against drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. claiming that the use of Cialis, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, is related to the development of skin cancer. Seven men from different states all filed suits stating that Eli Lilly was aware or should have been aware of the drug’s potential for exacerbating melanoma.
The claims are backed by studies cited in the suits that linked an enzyme inhibitor contained in the drug to melanoma. One study specified that use of the inhibitor, called PDE5, contributed to an increase in tumor growth.
It should be noted that this study did not reference Cialis specifically. For its part, Eli Lilly stated that upon reviewing the study, the company found no connection between Cialis and melanoma.
When you use a drug, you are taking it on faith that the manufacturer has used due diligence in its test process. A defective drug can leave a patient with serious health issues. In a worst-case scenario, a drug could even produce fatal results.
If you should suffer adverse effects after consuming a drug you suspect is defective, you may have cause to seek legal redress. A products liability attorney could act on your behalf in seeking compensation.
Source: Indianapolis Business Journal, “Cialis users sue Lilly, claiming drug has ties to skin cancer,” John Russell, Aug 5, 2016