In the News

At Bisnar & Chase, our California Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorneys and personal injury lawyers have been protecting the legal rights of seriously injured clients since 1978. If you or a loved one has developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a result of an adverse drug reaction, you may be able to file a claim against the negligent drug company or manufacturer. Our drug liability attorneys are respected by our clients and colleagues for our dedication to protecting our clients’ legal rights and the impressive amount of monetary compensation that we have recovered on behalf of our injured clients. If you or a loved one has developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome, contact Bisnar & Chase today for a free consultation.

Drug Warning after Girl's Death

Linda Goldston - Mercury News, April 8, 2005

Labels for such popular over-the-counter drugs as Motrin and Advil must now carry warnings about the potential for life threatening skin reactions like the one that killed a 9-year-old Saratoga girl and blinded a 7-year-old in Los Angeles. The change was announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday as part of a sweeping revision of warnings for a class of pain medications commonly used to treat fever and arthritis. Additionally, the top-selling arthritis drug, Bextra, was withdrawn from the market.

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Bextra Pulled From Pharmacy Shelves

Ali Gorman, R.N. - WILX News, April 7, 2005

Bextra is one of the controversial Cox-2 inhibitors. It had already been linked to an increase risk for cardiovascular problems and may now be linked to an increased risk for Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal skin disease that can result from a drug reaction.

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Family sues J&J unit over drug reaction

Susan Todd - Star-Ledger Staff, Tuesday, March 15, 2005

A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson is being sued by the parents of a 6-year-old Texas boy who suffered a severe reaction known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome after being treated with Children's Motrin. Simon Saw began to develop internal and external blisters after his father gave him the Children's Motrin, which is an over-the-counter liquid ibuprofen, according to the lawsuit filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Newark.

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Health Day - Petition Cites Rare Reactions to Ibuprofen

February 16, 2005

A citizen's group of doctors and families say over-the-counter ibuprofen can cause rare but life-threatening skin reactions, and it wants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to strengthen label warnings on products containing the painkiller.

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Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation's Response to FDA's Announcement Re: Planned Regulatory Actions for Bextra, Celebrex and Over-the-Counter NSAIDS

April 8, 2005

The following is a statement prepared by Jean Farrell McCawley, Founder/President of the Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation: After five years of contacting the FDA, the Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation is relieved to see that the FDA is moving in the right direction towards bringing public awareness to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and TEN (Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis) as caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

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Pfizer Suspends Bextra Sales in U.S., Europe

Reuters, April 11, 2005

NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. suspended sales of its arthritis drug Bextra on requests by U.S. and European regulators, who said the risks of potentially fatal side effects outweigh the benefits.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also asked Pfizer to include a black box warning- the strongest possible- for its painkiller Celebrex. Bextra and Celebrex are part of a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors that also includes Merck & Co.'s Vioxx, which was withdrawn last year due to increased risks of strokes and heart attacks.

The FDA said it singled out Bextra for suspension because it gives no added advantage as a painkiller and can cause a potentially life-threatening skin condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, an allergic reaction that usually begins as a blistering of the mouth and lips and can spread to the rest of the body.

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