State sues Astrazeneca about drug Seroquel
by patsy.brumfield@djournal.com
 From the front row
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By Patsy R. BrumfieldDaily JournalOXFORD – International drugmaker Astrazeneca, the maker and marketer of Seroquel, has been sued by the state of Mississippi.

Filed April 26 in federal court, the lawsuit claims the drug company and several affiliates lied about the therapeutic benefits of the antipsychotic drug, especially compared with less expensive drugs like Haldol.

The state also claims the company failed to warn about an increased risk “of dangerous side effects, such as weight gain and diabetes” for users.

These actions, the lawsuit says, resulted “in the fleecing of the state’s Medicaid funds.” The claims are just one side of the issue, and Astrazeneca has yet to answer them.

Attorney General Jim Hood with special Assistant Attorney General William M. Quin II of Jackson also seek jury trial and a permanent halt or injunction for what it claims the drug company has done in the state. Quin is formerly of Tupelo.

It also asks for extra damages, civil penalties, punitive damages and all reasonable court costs and attorneys’ fees.

The lawsuit was first filed in Chickasaw County on March 12. The drug company asked for its removal to federal court April 26.

The case, which is independent from any individual claims about Seroquel, is assigned to District Judge Sharion Aycock and Magistrate Judge Jerry A. Davis in Aberdeen.

• Read more in Wednesday’s Daily Journal.

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comments (4)
« Bichon wrote on Monday, May 03 at 10:49 AM »
The truth is the state is not sueing Astrazeneca, Hood and his Hoodlums filed the lawsuit.

If the AG cannot sue in his capacity as AG,on behalf of the state, he should not be able to enrich his loyal supporters..In the end, we the people will end up paying through higher costs.

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« straightsense wrote on Sunday, May 02 at 02:01 PM »
I guess lawsuit caps only apply to individual peon citizens. State can sue and get all it wants (and spread around to political Special Ass Atty Gen but it is wrong for you peons. Causes high health care you know.
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« Flemmings wrote on Wednesday, Apr 28 at 10:16 PM »
I guess that Hood's former special assistant Attorney General Joey Langston was unavailable to assist him on the case because he is serving time in federal prison. I guess his new special Assistant Attorney General will have to pick up the slack in civil litigation for the state. I wish him the best of luck on getting punitive damages along with reasonable court costs and of course attorneys’ fees .

I wonder if he will support Hood in his upcoming election, and make a donation to his campaign?

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« Bichon wrote on Wednesday, Apr 28 at 01:57 PM »
Way to go Mr. AG. You have turned into a regular HOOD trying to rob any company in America to cause a steep increase in medicine for everyone.

You might get a few paltry dollars for Mississippi and cause many Mississippians to not be able to afford their life saving drugs.

Maybe Patsy can get you to sue the makers of nexuum. Seems many folks need nexuum and have no side effects.

If you wanted to help Mississippi, you would join the lawsuit to strike down the unconstitutional health care bill...it might even help you get re-elected.
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