Lawsuit Update Center
Our legal team is actively involved in Suboxone litigation, specifically focusing on lawsuits related to tooth decay. Our attorneys are representing individuals affected by tooth decay, broken teeth, and other dental injuries caused by Suboxone.
Suboxone lawsuits are being pursued because the defendants were aware of the drug’s propensity to cause severe dental issues, yet failed to inform the public.
While a warning was eventually added in 2022, these Suboxone lawsuits seek justice for individuals who suffered dental injuries prior to this warning. These victims, unaware of the risks associated with Suboxone, experienced tooth decay and other dental problems without sufficient warning or justification.
Suboxone Dental Lawsuit News & Updates
Our Suboxone lawyers are committed to keeping you updated on these tooth decay lawsuits, whether you are a client of ours or not. Here is the latest:
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 30, 2023 | The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) convened in Santa Barbara, California, on January 25. The MDL number for this case, officially titled “In Re: Suboxone [Buprenorphine/Naloxone] Film Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, will be MDL-3092. |
| January 2, 2023 | The JPML is scheduled to hold a hearing to discuss the potential formation of a new MDL for Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits. Currently, at least 15 Suboxone lawsuits are pending in five U.S. District Courts, with more cases being enrolled or investigated nationwide. |
| December 13, 2023 | Responding to plaintiffs’ lawyers’ motion, defendants in the Suboxone lawsuits agree on the significant commonalities in these cases and support their consolidation into a class action before Judge J. Philip Calabrese in the Northern District of Ohio. |
| December 7, 2023 | Release of a new update video on Suboxone litigation, detailing the progress towards an MDL class action lawsuit and the strong basis of the claims in these lawsuits. |
| November 27, 2023 | Exploration of the critical elements in the motion for transfer, coordination, or consolidation for the formation of a Suboxone MDL class action lawsuit in the Northern District of Ohio, aimed at centralizing all current and future Suboxone-related lawsuits. |
About Suboxone
Suboxone emerged as a ray of hope amidst the opioid crisis, offering an alternative for those grappling with opioid dependence when it was FDA-approved in 2002. Comprising buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone was designed to combat misuse while alleviating withdrawal symptoms.
Buprenorphine, a semi-synthetic opioid, gained attention in the 1960s for its unique qualities—it could alleviate pain and simultaneously counteract the effects of opioids like heroin and morphine. Distinct from Suboxone, buprenorphine serves as an opioid agonist for managing opioid dependence or moderate-to-severe pain.
Researchers began exploring buprenorphine’s potential for opioid use disorder (OUD) management in the 1970s, noting its advantages over medications like methadone due to a lower risk of overdose and a less appealing form for potential abuse, dissolving under the tongue.
In 1995, buprenorphine received FDA approval for pain relief, and in 2002, Suboxone, a blend of buprenorphine and naloxone, obtained FDA endorsement for managing opioid dependence.
While there’s no call for a Suboxone recall, lawsuits address the need for comprehensive warnings about associated risks. Plaintiffs contend that drugmakers should provide thorough information to patients, allowing them to make informed choices and take preventive measures, including dental precautions to avoid risks linked to the drug.
Suboxone Works Great… But
As most of you reading this know, Suboxone works. Well. Suboxone fairly acclaimed as the best-in-class treatment for opioid addiction.
It is also true that good drugs can have side effects. Suboxone can cause nausea, vomiting, drug withdrawal syndrome, headache, sweating, numbness or tingling, swelling of the extremities, pain, and insomnia.
So what does the drug company do? It warns patients about these risks.
But sometimes, for whatever reason, drug companies do not tell doctors or users of the drug of the risks. Our Suboxone lawyers believe that an earlier warning could have cost Indivior money in lost sales.
Suboxone Injuries Our Clients Are Reporting
Since our law firm begin taking Suboxone lawsuits, our phones have been ringing off the hook with victims who believe they have bene injured by Suboxone. Here are the injuries they are reporting:
- Dry Mouth: A notable side effect of Suboxone is reduced saliva production, which can intensify the risk of tooth decay due to decreased natural oral protection.
- Tooth Erosion: There’s a potential for enamel erosion with Suboxone use, leaving teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.
- Severe Tooth Decay: A critical concern where users report cavities and extensive damage to their teeth.
- Oral Infections: There’s an increased risk of developing infections in the mouth, which could lead to more serious dental complications if left untreated.
- Brittle Teeth: Prolonged use of Suboxone might contribute to the weakening of teeth, making them more prone to cracks and fractures.
- Gum Problems: The use of Suboxone might lead to an increased risk of gum-related diseases, adversely affecting overall dental health.
Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits
An increasing number of nationwide lawsuits are being filed against Suboxone manufacturers, alleging wrongful and negligent conduct in various aspects of the drug’s development, design, testing, labeling, packaging, promotion, advertising, marketing, distribution, and sales.
These legal actions specifically claim that the manufacturers had prior knowledge or should have been aware that Suboxone, as prescribed, leads to harmful dental damage due to the acidic nature of buprenorphine. Despite this awareness, the lawsuit contends that the manufacturers initially marketed and sold Suboxone without providing warnings regarding the risks of tooth decay.
In January 2022, the FDA released a public safety announcement highlighting the risks of tooth decay linked to Suboxone. Only after this warning was issued did the Suboxone makers update the drug’s label to include information about the potential risk of tooth decay. This failure to warn adequately, despite prior knowledge, constitutes a clear example of negligence, making the manufacturers’ liability challenging to dispute.
Defendants in the Suboxone Lawsuits
The central defendant in the Suboxone legal cases is Indivior, Inc., a pharmaceutical firm responsible for manufacturing and marketing Suboxone. Indivior specializes in developing drugs for treating opioid dependency, with Suboxone being a prominent product in their portfolio. Initially, Indivior was a division of the British pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser (Reckitt). However, in 2014, Reckitt separated Indivior, along with its rapidly expanding opioid addiction treatment segment, forming a new publicly traded company.
The Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits typically list Indivior, Reckitt, and their various U.S. operating entities as defendants. Indivior, being a publicly traded entity listed on the London Stock Exchange and well-financed, is expected to bear primary responsibility for the Suboxone-related liabilities. However, Indivior has faced legal issues in the past. In 2019, the company was indicted by the Department of Justice for false marketing claims and a scheme aimed at steering patients toward doctors likely to prescribe Suboxone.
Another significant defendant in the Suboxone lawsuits is Aquestive Therapeutics Inc., a pharmaceutical company headquartered in New Jersey. Aquestive collaborated with Indivior in the development of Suboxone.
Estimated Settlement Value of Suboxone Lawsuits
Our attorneys currently project the potential settlement range for Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits to fall between $50,000 and $150,000. However, this estimation is solely for settlement purposes. In the event these Suboxone cases proceed to trial, the potential payout from a verdict might significantly increase, potentially involving punitive damages. We believe that if Suboxone cases were to reach trial, the potential value could surpass $1 million.
This forecast is admittedly premature. The Suboxone tooth decay litigation is still in its nascent stages, making it challenging to predict definitive settlement amounts accurately. Describing this estimate as speculation wouldn’t be entirely unfair. Yet, if these tooth decay lawsuits demonstrate success, given the justifiability of a warning and substantial evidence supporting causation, we can reasonably gauge their potential payout value.
