Four companies — Walmart, Aurobindo Pharma, ScieGen Pharmaceuticals and Westminster Pharmaceuticals — were hit with a lawsuit alleging they contributed to the sale and production of impure drugs, according to a federal complaint filed Dec. 1.
Here are four things to know:
1. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Florida against the four companies over the sale and production of irbesartan tablets, which contained a probable human carcinogen, N-nitrosodiethylamine.
2. Irbesartan, used to treat high blood pressure, recently was recalled by some U.S. manufacturers concerned about the impurity.
3. The lawsuit contends that consumers were injured by paying the full price for their medication containing the tainted medication and by paying for incidental medical expenses.
"These medications are worthless because they are contaminated with carcinogenic and harmful NDEA and are thus not fit for human consumption," the lawsuit charges.
4. The plaintiff is seeking restitution and damages for several violations of law, including breach of contract, failure to warn, negligence and fraudulent concealment. If the lawsuit is certified as a class action by the court, others will be eligible for restitution.