Fresenius Reaches $250 Million GranuFlo Settlement
On February 22, 2016, it was announced that Fresenius Medical Care reached an agreement to set aside $250 million to settle claims stemming from their GranuFlo and Naturalyte dialysis concentrates. GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are medications used on dialysis patients undergoing treatment for kidney disease and renal failure during dialysis treatments. It is the most commonly prescribed dialysis treatment drug available, used on nearly 200,000 patients.
These products were recalled in 2012 by the FDA after they were identified as contributing to over 900 heart attacks in one year. Unlike other dialysis concentrates, these products contain a chemical which the liver metabolizes into bicarbonate, in addition to the bicarbonate which other products contain. This gives the patient a double-dose of bicarbonate. Which leads to an overdose causing complications including low blood pressure and cardiac arrest.
Side effects of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte include:
- Low blood pressure
- Low blood oxygen levels
- High carbon dioxide
- Irregular heart beat
- Low potassium
- Congestive heart failure
- Stroke
- Cardiac arrest
As long as 97% of plaintiffs agree to the terms of the $250 million settlement by July, 2016, the settlement funding will be provided in August 2016.
If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of Fresenius’ GranuFlo or Naturalyte products, you need an attorney. Please contact us at (337) 234-7573 for a free evaluation, or visit the GranuFlo Lawyer website for more information. Class action lawsuits are pending.
