Multaq is an anticoagulant medication that is used as a treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), which is caused by an irregular heart rhythm or flutter. While the condition is serious, some of the side effects of the medications used to treat AF are, too. One of them is Multaq.
Made by Sanofi-Aventis, Multaq was originally approved to treat temporary AF. The drug’s manufacturers admitted that Multaq came with some side effects, one of which was liver failure. Despite the liver failure risks, Sanofi decided to conduct a clinical trial of Multaq which they dubbed PALLAS. This clinical trial was meant to see if Multaq could be used to treat patients with permanent AF. This PALLAS study eventually had to be halted because too many patients were dying. It turned out that instead of making their heart conditions easier to live with, they were experiencing a worsening of their heart conditions as a result of taking the drug. This eventually caused the FDA to review Multaq’s risks-to-benefits ratio.
In December 2011, FDA officials announced that they now believe Multaq’s risks outweigh its benefits. The agency eventually ruled that Multaq should only be used in the event that other medications failed to work. One study, which was published in April 2010 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, even suggested that Multaq doesn’t even work as well as a generic medication. That study, which was conducted by researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, found that Multaq works about half as well as amiodarone.
It turns out that these opinions of Multaq haven’t eased with time. In fact, doctors in general continue to avoid prescribing Multaq unless they have to — and this opinion doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon. This is particularly true since newer drugs like apixaban may prove to be far safer and more effective than Multaq once it is approved by the FDA.
If you or a loved one have developed liver failure or a worsening of your heart condition after taking Multaq, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.