Bayer discussing NSF Settlements
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis has been identified with exposure to gadolinium-containing contrasting agents used in MRI and patients suffering renal failure and under kidney dialysis. Due to the nature of the disease and its swift and progressive attack that hardens and thickens skin and other tissues throughout the body, the Court has pushed for an aggressive trial schedule since many of the plaintiffs are very ill and may not survive lengthy litigation. The federal gadolinium litigation has been consolidated before Judge Dan Polster in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for purposes of pretrial litigation. According to Judge Polster, Bayer Healthcare, one of the 5 manufacturers of the gadolinium contrasting agents, has initiated settlement negotiations with a number of plaintiffs. About 400 gadolinium lawsuits have been filed in state or federal courts against Bayer and the makers of four other types of MRI contrast agents, including GE Healthcare’s Omniscan, Bracco Diagnostics’ MultiHance and ProHance, and Mallinckrodt’s OptiMARK. Details of gadolinium settlement negotiations have not been publicly released, during a recent status conference held on March 6, 2009, Judge Polster confirmed that discussions have taken place and suggested that several cases may settle in the near future.
