First Digitek Heart Drug Trial Set for Jan. 2011

The first trial among hundreds of lawsuits filed over oversized Digitek heart pills accused of causing patients to suffer life-threatening injuries is set to begin in January 2011, a federal court judge has ruled.

Digitek is a form of the drug digoxin, which is used to treat congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, atrial flutter, and atrial fibrillation. However, too much of the drug can result in a serious and potentially deadly condition called digoxin toxicity.

In 2008, drug maker Actavis Totowa recalled all lots of its Digitek heart drug after it was discovered that some tablets were twice as big as they were supposed to be. That spawned fears that patients were ingesting dangerous double doses of the active ingredient and at risk of injury.

The Food and Drug Administration has said there were at least 667 Digitek overdose deaths related to the recalled oversized pills from April 2008 through June 2008.

This week, the West Virginia federal judge who is presiding over hundreds of Digitek injury lawsuits filed on behalf of patients ruled that the first trial will begin early next year, according to a report on Aboutlawsuits.com.

The so-called “bellwether” trial will be picked from one of five Digitek cases selected last month for consideration to comprise the early trials in the consolidation proceedings. The judge’s order does not indicate which of those lawsuits will actually be the first to go before jurors, according to Aboutlawsuits.com.

Earlier trials in dangerous drug litigation are very closely watched by all parties and often help shape the future of the litigation. An early victory in court for plaintiffs could open the door for settlements of similar lawsuits filed on behalf of other victims seeking financial compensation for their injuries.

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