FAQ
Elmiron Linked to Vision Loss
Jassen Pharmaceuticals produces the drug Elmiron, which was primarily prescribed to women to treat interstitial cystitis (IC), a painful bladder infection. Elmiron was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug A, and it has been on the market since 1996. In 2018, after 20 plus years on the market, a study by the Emory University Eye Center found that Elmiron may cause ophthalmological damage to users. This includes retinal damage, vision loss, loss of color vision, loss of depth perception, and blindness. Up to 25 percent of users may develop a unique type of ocular damage called pigmentary maculopathy. The Emory Eye Center’s research was supported by a report at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in 2019.
Litigation Against Janssen Pharmaceuticals Over Elmiron Vision Loss
Following this breakthrough research, plaintiffs began filing product liability claims in early 2020 across the United States. Plaintiffs claimed that Elmiron caused unexpected damage to the eyes and that Janssen Pharmaceuticals may have been aware of the risk and withheld adverse event reports from the public and the FDA.
The hundreds of cases were compiled into multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. As co-lead counsel, Seeger Weiss partner Parvin Aminolroaya has helped affected users receive compensation for their vision loss in confidential out-of-court settlements.
Elmiron is still FDA-approved and available, but Janssen Pharmaceuticals has updated the label, noting concerns about “retinal pigmentary changes.”