As we previously reported, the United States Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL) convened to determine whether the cases, known as IN RE: INCRETIN MIMETICS PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION, should be given MDL treatment. Granting MDL treatment consolidates all federal lawsuits filed across the United States into one centralized district. This consolidation streamlines the pretrial discovery process, allowing the parties to avoid duplicative discovery and inconsistent rulings from different judges.

The Judicial Panel granted MDL status and signed a Transfer Order on August 26, 2013. The cases will be consolidated and transferred to U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California and presided over by the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia. The Judicial Panel decided the Southern District of California was appropriate given the volume of filings that currently pend in that district and the fact that Judge Battaglia is familiar with the case.  Notably, the case caption has been changed to “In re Incretin-Based Therapies Products Liability Litigation.”

If you or a loved one has suffered from pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer after taking Byetta, Januvia/Janumet or Victoza, you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort/Pharmaceutical Litigation attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any potential claims.