Lawfirm referral to sue Amgen RE: Nplate

My wife died a number of months ago due to complications caused by Nplate. She was only 34.

I have received the final autopsy report confirming the above and now have the materials and an expert witness (at Stanford) to pursue a case against Amgen for misrepresenting and/or withholding known life-threatening side effects caused by Nplate.

I first wanted to reach out to the ITP community to see if any members have connections with lawfirms that have the resources and experience necessary to review and potentially pursue my case. Any referrals would be greatly appreciated. The most important factor is finding a firm that either has prior experience going after Amgen, or similar pharmaceutical companies.

If you have a referral but do not wish to post here, please send me a private message.

Thank to you to the community!

I am so sorry; I wish I had better words for you. I can't imagine how devastated you are. I remember when you posted about it. Would you mind telling us exactly what caused her death? It would really help others as far as knowing the risks since we have many people here who use N-Plate.

I would love to help you with a lawyer referral, but I don't know of any. We have never had that come up here before. Taking on Amgen will be a large undertaking; I wish you luck.

I found this firm who seems to have taken Amgen on before. I don't know how credible they are.

www.pritzkerlaw.com/product-liability-lawyers-in-minnesota/medication-lawsuit/amgen/

It seems as though Amgen has been sued before for other products. This is a big one a few years back.

www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/health/25amgen.html?_r=0

www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-and-fda-agree-to-modify-nplate-romiplostim-risk-evaluation-and-mitigation-strategy-135106068.html

Sent you a private message with a pharmaceutical liability firm name.
Norma

Sandi wrote: I am so sorry; I wish I had better words for you. I can't imagine how devastated you are. I remember when you posted about it. Would you mind telling us exactly what caused her death? It would really help others as far as knowing the risks since we have many people here who use N-Plate.

I would love to help you with a lawyer referral, but I don't know of any. We have never had that come up here before. Taking on Amgen will be a large undertaking; I wish you luck.

I found this firm who seems to have taken Amgen on before. I don't know how credible they are.

www.pritzkerlaw.com/product-liability-lawyers-in-minnesota/medication-lawsuit/amgen/

It seems as though Amgen has been sued before for other products. This is a big one a few years back.

www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/health/25amgen.html?_r=0

www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-and-fda-agree-to-modify-nplate-romiplostim-risk-evaluation-and-mitigation-strategy-135106068.html

Thank you for the above links, I'll investigate and reach out to the firm.

My wife died from microclots caused by Nplate (note this is very different from the potential clot issue they disclose due to elevated platelet counts) that cascaded into life-destroying watershed strokes. This is a very, very dangerous side effect of the drug that Amgen is not disclosing (and I believe they know about this side effect and are intentionally withholding it from the public). Anyone on Nplate who goes to the doctor with flu/pneumonia/renal/lung symptoms/issues should be immediately screened for microclots (which develop in the brain and heart). Unfortunately, the extent and complexity of this side effect is not known, and I don't even know if the microclots caused by Nplate are even treatable. This is why a lawsuit and full investigation is absolutely necessary. I will also be contacting the FDA. The core goal is to protect lives and hold Amgen accountable for any negligence or willful withholding of information.

juliannesmom wrote: Sent you a private message with a pharmaceutical liability firm name.
Norma

Thank you so much Norma, I received your message and will reach out to your referral tomorrow.

Thank you for telling us. I would think that certainly is a possibility with TPO use. I'm so sorry that happened to her.

Requnix,

My wife has ITP, and I know I would be devastated if something like this happened to her. I am terribly sorry for your loss.

It might be of some benefit to others to know if there could be any additional risk factors that might help explain why, of all the many thousands of users of romiplostim, your wife was affected while others were not. If I may ask... did your wife have any other conditions/symptoms/remarkable test results, that may have contributed? For example, something as simple as anemia might suggest the possibility that your wife had undiagnosed TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) which can lead to microclots. I can imagine how Nplate might then exacerbate microclot formation, causing thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) (which I presume is the medical name for your wife's condition). Lupus (SLE) can also cause TMA, especially of the kidneys.

I found a list of drugs that are reported as being associated with TMA. Romiplostim is not on the list.
ouhsc.edu/platelets/documents/MSDITMASupplTable3.pdf

Here is information on how to make a report to the FDA, if you have not already done so:
www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm
You can do this by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088. I have done it, and it wasn't hard.

I had a stroke in 2011 when I was 25 from nplate but was more due to given too much nplate, I am truly sorry for your loss and I hope you find the answers your looking for unfortunately for a lot of us nplate is the only thing that works do we have no choice but to be on it, I hope in the future safer drugs come out for Itp.

Kelirae24 wrote: I had a stroke in 2011 when I was 25 from nplate but was more due to given too much nplate, I am truly sorry for your loss and I hope you find the answers your looking for unfortunately for a lot of us nplate is the only thing that works do we have no choice but to be on it, I hope in the future safer drugs come out for Itp.

My sincere condolences Kelirae; I hope you have been able to recover. Do you mind me asking what your platelet count was when you had the stroke, and if it was a full on stroke caused by an actual clot, or something caused by microclots?

I was told it was a clot my platelets got up to 500,000 to 900,000 at one point my first found was a finger stick when I got off the boat( I was on a cruise) was 194 I don't think that was the correct number though. It was a clot on the right side of my brain which effected my left side of my body I don't have full feeling in my left arm but everything else came back after months of physical therapy. I actually still took nplate up until a couple weeks ago because I am pregnant, and is not recommended during pregnancy. I was angry at nplate for awhile I wouldn't touch it for a year after my stroke but to lead a normal life it's my only option. Again I am so incredibly sorry for your loss, I can't imagine what your going through.