World

Personal Injury Lawyer Richard Console Helping Those Impacted By Popular Diabetes Drug Metformin

Published

3 years ago

July 3, 2020

Doctors have prescribed Metformin to more than 120 million patients worldwide to manage diabetes and other health conditions. Although the FDA has only approved Metformin for the treatment of type-2 diabetes, the drug is widely used off-label to treat many other conditions — including prediabetes, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fertility problems and more.

In June 2020, a recall of the drug was announced by drugmaker Apotex, after finding certain batches containing possible high levels of NDMA, a known animal carcinogen which is also believed to cause cancer in humans. Due to Metformin often being prescribed for off-label use, this means that even a greater number of patients have suffered harm from it.

Metformin Recall

In May 2020, the FDA identified five pharmaceutical companies that produced batches of Metformin that, according to the agency’s laboratory tests, contained unacceptably high levels of NDMA. The contaminated lots of Metformin that have been recalled are only the extended-release tablets.

As of early June 2020, four of the five pharmaceutical companies that produced contaminated batches of Metformin have initiated recalls of 28 products:

Apotex, which recalled all lots of its metformin products with the NDC (National Drug Code) identification number 60505-0260-1
Actavis Generics (part of Teva Pharmaceuticals), which recalled 14 items with various NDC and lot numbers
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, which recalled all lots of 12 metformin products with various NDC numbers
Time-Cap Labs, Inc. (part of Marksans Pharma), which recalled just 1 lot of metformin (lot number XP9004)

Metformin, NDMA and Cancer

While NDMA is dangerous and a known animal carcinogen and probable human carcinogen, it is fairly common and can be found in everything from air, soil, water and consumer products like cured meat, tobacco and shampoo, according to Everyday Health. Because exposure to very small amounts of NDMA is unavoidable, the FDA set a maximum “reasonably safe” daily intake of 96 nanograms, the equivalent to one billionth of a gram.

Consuming more than the maximum daily amount could raise your risk for cancer. The FDA released a public statement advising the public, “Although there are no reports of NDMA causing cancer in humans, it is reasonable to expect that exposure to NDMA by eating, drinking or breathing could cause cancer in humans.”

According to online pharmacy Valisure, who conducted independent laboratory testing of Metformin, several of the affected batches of the drug contained more than ten times that amount. The batches that performed the worst testing for NDMA had 16 times the recommended amount.

“Imagine ingesting 16 times what’s recommended as the maximum exposure — on top of whatever environmental or dietary exposures you might have —every single day, for years, decades, or even a lifetime,” stated personal injury attorney, Richard Console.

The cancer-causing impact of NDMA is believed to be cumulative. “It’s easy to see how a patient exposed to the carcinogen through their diabetes medication could continue to unknowingly stack their cancer risk higher as the year’s pass,” empathizes Console.

Over the years, a myriad of laboratory research on animals and human observation studies those who have been exposed to NDMA. Findings have shown that the chemical can cause or contribute to developing several different forms of cancers. Possible overexposure to the powerful carcinogen has been linked to more than a dozen types of cancer, including the following:

Prostate Cancer
Lower Esophageal Cancer
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Leukemia
Multiple Myeloma
Colon Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Intestinal Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer

What You Should Do

First, call your doctor if you have recently been taking Metformin or if you were prescribed it in the past. Do not stop taking the drug without first speaking to a medical professional, as it could cause side effects. The sooner you reach out to your physician to discuss your risks and options, the better.

Once you have spoken to your doctor, contact an attorney. Because cancer often presents itself without an obvious origin, determining whether it’s likely that NDMA caused you to develop cancer, it may be best to reach out to a Metformin injury lawsuit attorney right away. When working to determine a substantial case, they will explore questions like:

How long and at what dosage have you been taking Metformin?
When were you diagnosed with cancer?
In general, is the type of cancer you developed common or rare? What about for patients in your age group, specifically?
What risk factors did you already have for cancer you developed?
What stage was or is your cancer? Has it seemed to progress more quickly than expected?
Has a doctor suggested there may be a link between the medication you took and your cancer? What might a medical expert think?

Additionally, for those that used Metformin prior to developing cancer and developed a rare cancer for which they didn’t have risk factors, there’s a strong chance that NDMA from diabetes medication could be to blame. Those who believe they may have developed cancer after taking Metformin may be eligible for a mass tort claim, which may make getting the compensation you deserve easier.

“When you are taking a medication that is supposed to help you, it’s hard to accept that it could have caused more harm than good,” says Console. “A lawsuit cannot give you back what you have lost, but personal injury attorneys are there to be your advocate and get the justice and compensation to minimize the overwhelming financial burden of a cancer battle.”

Richard P. Console, Jr. is the founder of Console and Associates, PC. He opened his law firm to serve one vital purpose: to help the victims of accidents and injuries at the time when they need help the most. Mr. Console is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Since 1994, he has represented over 7,000 clients and has achieved a record of success getting clients every dollar of compensation they deserve.

If you or anyone you know has developed cancer following regular use of Metformin, please speak with a Metformin lawsuit attorney right away.

World

Violation of US election rules: Abrahim Tahir Javed under serious investigation

Published

4 days ago

December 5, 2023

Jenny Jackson

By Our Reporter

TEXAS: The Texas Ethics Commission has confirmed its investigation of Abrahim Tahir Javed for accepting unauthorised campaign contributions and for failing to file a campaign treasure appointment in violation of the election rules.

The Texas Ethics Commission says it’s investigating Abrahim Tahir Javed under case number SC-32309260 where the candidate was alleged to have failed filing a treasurer appointment in violation of Section 252.001 of the Election Code; and knowingly accepted campaign contributions of authorized campaign expenditures at a time when campaign treasurer appointment was not in effect in violation of Section 253.031.

Abrahim Tahir Javed, born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, is running to become the Commissioner for Fort Bend County, Sugar Land, Texas. He is the son of Muhammad Tahir Javed, the Texas businessman who was recently sacked by Pakistan’s prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar from the position of Overseas Investment Advisor after Javed’s previous fraud convictions in the United States came to the surface.

Investigation by the Texas Ethics Commission is not the only issue Abrahim Javed faces.

Abrahim Javed, a 24 year old recent college graduate, moved to Fort Bend County from his longtime home of Beaumont, Jefferson County in October, according to public records, a few weeks before the filing deadline for running for public office in the upcoming primary elections. Public records show Mr. Javed was issued a new driver’s license on October 1, 2023 with a conflicting Fort Bend address – just a few weeks before one could file for running for office.

The law is clear. Texas Election Code Section 141.001 explains that for someone eligible to run for office in Texas must (1) “have resided continuously in the state for 12 months” and (2) in the territory from which the office is elected for six months immediately preceding the filing deadline for the upcoming primary election. The filing deadline is December 11, 2024. To meet the six-month residency deadline, a candidate must be a resident of that precinct by June 11, 2024.

According to Public Records and Sources, Mr. Javed filed an “Appointment of Treasurer” form on September 25, 2023. On this government document, Mr. Javed listed “14415 Castlemaine Court, Sugar Land, TX 77498.” From a simple search, the address that Mr. Javed listed actually belongs to that of a local political operative Haroon Mougal who has been the subject of numerous Texas Ethics Commission investigations already.

Public records from Mr. Javed’s actual home in Jefferson County indicate that he was still registered to vote there as late as in September 2023. Another glaring discrepancy on governmental forms and documents now relates to Mr. Javed’s voter registration forms. After his recent move to Fort Bend County, his voter registration is now listed at 11826 Matagorda Ln, Sugar Land, Texas. There are multiple discrepancies on legal documents that Mr. Javed has filed with the government claiming various parts of his new residency status in Fort Bend County, but ALL of them well after the June 11th residency deadline. According to sources, Mr. Javed is also telling residents that he has been a long-time resident of Fort Bend County when that is clearly false and evidenced in his voter registration, social media accounts, and more that he has always lived in Beaumont of Jefferson County, Texas until he decided to move to Fort Bend County a few weeks ago to run for office.

The story of felonies and fraud begins much earlier with the father of Abrahim Javed, a formerly convicted felon Muhammad Tahir Javed. According to the court records of Texas, Tahir Javed was sentenced to five years of deferred probation for felony theft. He was then sentenced for five years but only served half of that term. Authorities in Texas had prosecuted him for theft and a minimum sentence for felony starts from a year. After his theft sentence in 1994, Tahir Javed focussed on business and with help from his brother he progressed and went on to set up several companies. Texas Jefferson County’s District Criminal Court data records Muhammad Tahir Javed’s felony theft as Cause: 56447; offence date: 25 September 1990, Beaumont Tx; filing date: 5 November 1990; offence description, theft by receiving; probation amount: 5; and description: P/G Judge; and Deferred Completed: 28th of March 1994.”

Again, in July 2017, Javed was warned of criminal prosecution, seizure or injunction by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The warning was issued over his Royal Smoke LL, an online purveyor of tobacco and tobacco related products. At the same time, Royal Smoke was subjected to government intervention.

“FDA has determined that Royal Smoke products are misbranded…because you sold these products to persons under 18 years of age,” an FDA warning letter to Javed said. Javed Tahir was additionally cautioned against labelling and advertising outside the scope of the law and barring corrective measures could face criminal prosecution. Tahir Javed describes himself as a Pakistani American entrepreneur, investor, business magnate, and philanthropist on his social media profiles.

In 2018, Muhammad Tahir Javed stood in US Primary Elections to represent Texas District 29 in Congress. His campaign manifesto stated that he “understands the problems facing the district and the country, and the experience and desire to get things done”. He had sought to replace Democrat Gene Green, who had served as the Texas District 29 Rep since the district was created in 1993. He lost the election to the veteran Democrat candidate. Muhammad Tahir Javed lost by a double-digit margin to now Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.

At that time, Muhammad Tahir Javed announced to run for the Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Position before his son, Abrahim Javed did. However, he was also slapped with a Texas Ethics Commission investigation – case SC 32306211, causing him to back out. In that time frame, Muhammad Tahir Javed was appointed by the interim caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan to a government post that was then immediately revoked a few days after its inception due to the failure of Muhammad Tahir Javed disclosing his criminal history in the US. There was even an attempt to influence the Jefferson County Clerk’s office to provide an unverified and unsubstantiated letter to the Government of Pakistan falsely claiming that Javed did not have any criminal history. However, that attempt failed and Pakistan premier Kakar sacked him.