Viekira Pak is a treatment for hepatitis C infections, but it has been linked to serious liver injuries — including liver failure, transplants, or death. These side effects can occur within 1-4 weeks of treatment.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Viekira Pak liver injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with liver failure, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Viekira Pak Lawsuits & Class Actions
Class actions have been filed against insurance companies that denied coverage for Viekira. Instead of a class action, our lawyers are filing individual lawsuits for liver injuries caused by Viekira, such as:
- Cirrhosis
- End-stage liver disease
- Hepatotoxicity
- Acute hepatitis (liver inflammation)
- Liver failure
- Liver transplant
- Death
FDA Warns of Liver Damage from Viekira Pak
In October 2015, the FDA warned that the hepatitis C drugs Viekira Pak and Technivie can cause serious liver injury. The FDA received 26 reports since Viekira was approved in December 2014.
What Are the Most Serious Risks?
Cases of hepatic decompensation and liver failure have been reported in patients who had underlying liver cirrhosis before starting Viekira Pak. Some of these events resulted in liver transplantation or death.
Viekira and Liver Toxicity
Liver injuries can occur within 1 to 4 weeks of starting treatment with Viekira. Most people who were injured had pre-existing liver disease with evidence of advanced cirrhosis before starting treatment. These reports are concerning because Viekira is not recommended in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C) due to risk of liver toxicity.
Recommendation for Doctors & Patients
Doctors should closely monitor patients for symptoms of worsening liver disease. Patients with symptoms of liver failure should seek medical attention. Do not stop taking Viekira before talking to a doctor.
Symptoms of Liver Injury
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Jaundice
- Light-colored stools
- Dark-colored urine
Complications of Exacerbated Liver Disease
- Ascites: Build-up of fluid in the abdomen
- Hepatic encephalopathy: Confusion, drowsiness, or coma due to toxins in the brain
- Variceal hemorrhage: Life-threatening internal bleeding
- Elevated liver enzymes: Increases in direct bilirubin in the blood
What is Viekira Pak?
Viekira Pak is a treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infections, including patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. However, it is not recommended for patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment. It was approved by the FDA in December 2014 and it is sold by AbbVie Inc.
What is in Viekira Pak?
Viekira Pak contains fixed doses of a combination of medications. It contains three new drugs — dasabuvir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir — that work together to stop the hepatitis C virus from growing. Another drug called ritonavir helps these other drugs get into the body.
Viekira Pak may or may not be used with a drug called ribavirin, but it is not recommended in patients whose liver is unable to function properly (decompensated cirrhosis).
How Does Viekira Pak Work?
Viekira Pak is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) that cures over 90% of people with hepatitis C. It works by stopping the virus from replicating. After 12-24 weeks, all of the viruses are dead and the patient is cured.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a viral disease that causes liver inflammation. Most people have no symptoms until many years of low-level inflammation cause scarring (cirrhosis) that reduces liver function. It can also lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Over 3 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C. Without treatment, 15-30% develop cirrhosis.
Do I have a Viekira Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Viekira Pak liver injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with liver failure, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
