Suboxone Lawsuit
Suboxone lawsuits claim that this drug approved to treat opioid disorder can cause serious dental problems such as tooth decay, oral infections, cavities and tooth loss. Lawsuits claim manufacturer Indivior failed to properly warn about the risks and plaintiffs are seeking compensation.
Latest Suboxone Lawsuit Updates
As of November 2023, Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits were in the initial stages and Suboxone lawyers were still accepting and investigating these cases. There haven’t been any court-approved, publicly announced Suboxone settlements for dental problems and no trials have been scheduled.
- November 2023: Plaintiffs' lawyers urged the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to centralize all federal Suboxone lawsuits into multidistrict litigation. Meanwhile, 14 new Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits were filed against Indivior in federal courts, with the Northern District of Ohio hosting the highest number of pending cases.
- October 2023: Indivior agreed to pay $385 million to settle Suboxone lawsuits drug wholesalers filed.
- September 2023: David Sorensen filed a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit against Indivior, Reckitt Benckisner and other defendants after he used the drug and developed permanent damage to his teeth and required substantial dental work.
- August 2023: Indivior reached a Suboxone settlement for $30 million with health care plans that had brought a federal antitrust lawsuit against the company.
- April 2023: The Federal Trade Commission announced it had paid about $369,000 to consumers who joined Suboxone class-action lawsuits but missed the original deadline.
- January 2022: FDA publicly announced the agency received reports that medicines containing buprenorphine that dissolve in the mouth, such as Suboxone, can cause dental problems. Adding a new warning to the drug’s prescribing information and patient medication guide was required.
There haven’t been any settlements for Suboxone teeth damage lawsuits. However, in May 2021, FTC reached a $60 million agreement to resolve false marketing claims.
FTC sent about 51,875 class-action settlement payments to consumers. These people allegedly overpaid for Suboxone because of a “deceptive scheme by Reckitt Benckiser Group and Indivior, Inc. to thwart lower-proved generic competition with the branded drug Suboxone.”
Why Are People Filing Suboxone Lawsuits?
People are filing Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits because they developed serious dental problems after using Suboxone. Lawsuits claim Indivior knew or should have known the risks but failed to warn medical providers and consumers.
“As warned by the FDA on January 12, 2022, serious dental issues are being reported following use of the sublingual Suboxone delivery system, a strip that contains buprenorphine and dissolves in the mouth. This Suboxone film looks and dissolves much like breath freshening strips you would buy at a gas station or a grocery store,” mass tort and product liability attorney Trent B. Miracle told Drugwatch.
“Serious dental issues are being reported following use of the sublingual Suboxone delivery system, a strip that contains buprenorphine and dissolves in the mouth.”
Prior to people filing Suboxone lawsuits for dental problems, Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser faced an antitrust Suboxone class-action lawsuit that claimed limited competition caused consumers to overpay for the drug. In 2019 and 2020, the FTC reached settlements totaling $60 million.
Consumers received the first payments in May 2021 and the remaining class members received payments in April 2023. Currently, there is no active Suboxone class-action lawsuit. Current injury lawsuits are for dental problems.
Deceptive Marketing Claims
In deceptive marketing claims unrelated to the tooth damage lawsuits, Indivior pleaded guilty to felony charges associated with Suboxone deceptive marketing and agreed to pay $600 million to resolve criminal and civil liability in July 2019. Allegedly, the company deceived doctors and health plans, claiming Suboxone was safer and less susceptible to abuse than similar drugs.
Indivior “admitted to an aspect of the scheme alleged in the indictment. Specifically, Indivior Solutions admitted that, in October 2012, it sought to convince MassHealth to expand Medicaid coverage of Suboxone Film in Massachusetts and sent MassHealth false data indicating that Suboxone Film had the lowest rate of accidental pediatric exposure (i.e., children taking medication by accident) of all buprenorphine drugs in Massachusetts, when in fact, it did not,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The DOJ also reached a $1.4 billion resolution with Reckitt Benckiser, Indivior’s former parent company. Then in October 2019, Reckitt Benckiser reached a $700 million settlement deal with six states for improper marketing.
Do I Qualify to File a Suboxone Lawsuit?
If you have had dental problems following use of prescription Suboxone film, you may qualify to file a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. Only a licensed Suboxone lawyer can tell you if you qualify to join a suboxone lawsuit.
“People should contact a lawyer if they have noticed any serious dental issues following use of Suboxone sublingual strips. These dental problems range from cavities to tooth decay to broken or lost teeth,” Miracle told Drugwatch.
- Have been prescribed Suboxone opioid addiction or pain management
- Used prescription Suboxone for at least six months before suffering injuries
- Have one of more of the following injuries: Cavities, tooth loss, tooth fractures, tooth decay, tongue injuries and gum injuries
- Have had routine dental care prior to Suboxone usage
Contact a law firm right away to avoid losing your right to file a claim. If your diagnosis was more than 10 years ago, you must be able to get your own dental records.
How a Lawyer Can Help with Your Suboxone Lawsuit
A lawyer can help you gather the correct evidence of tooth decay or other injuries for your Suboxone case. Your attorney will also file your lawsuit and then negotiate a Suboxone settlement or prepare your case for jury trial.
“As with any case, people should carefully research who they hire to represent them. In complex cases such as this, it is especially important to retain counsel with resources and years of experience litigating against multinational pharmaceutical companies,” according to Miracle.
Like most product liability injury claims, lawyers offer free case evaluations for Suboxone teeth lawsuits. Law firms don’t collect their fees unless they recover a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf.
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