A group of Elmiron lawsuits from around the country have been consolidated and transferred to federal court in the District of New Jersey, where they will be heard by U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti.

The transfer order applies to 63 Elmiron lawsuits from 11 federal districts. Sixty-five additional Elmiron lawsuits, as well as future lawsuits — which the panel estimated could grow into the hundreds — may be included at a later date, pending review.

The decision was issued last month by the seven federal judges who sit on the U.S. …

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated its safety recommendations for a device used in fibroid removal surgeries. Aimed at health care providers and patients alike, the latest recommendations are intended to minimize the risk of undetected uterine cancer being spread to the patient’s pelvis and abdomen during minimally invasive fibroid removal procedures.

The safety recommendations for laparoscopic power morcellators (LPM) were released at the end of 2020 for inclusion on the morcellator package insert. In particular, the FDA recommended a black box warning, its most serious type of alert, stating that uterine tissue may contain unsuspected cancer and that the use of LPMs may spread such cancer and decrease long-term survival rates. …

Common drugs such as Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, Sominex and many others may increase the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published this fall in the journal Neurology.

Known as anticholinergics, this broad class of drugs includes over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat a wide range of conditions — everything from allergies, sleep issues and mood disorders to high blood pressure, bladder problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and Parkinson’s.

Anticholinergics work by blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is responsible for learning and memory as well as for muscle contractions. …

Asbestos, a potent carcinogen, was found in three talc-based powdered cosmetics — two eye shadows and a children’s “toy” makeup kit — out of 21 tested recently. The research was commissioned by the environmental nonprofit Environmental Working Group and published Nov. 24 in the journal Environmental Health Insights.

Moisture-absorbing, anti-caking and silky, talc is a common ingredient in cosmetics and other personal care items such as baby powder, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, blush, lipstick, mascara, eye shadow and many others. Talc is also used in some products marketed for youth, like the children’s makeup kit that was recently tested. …

A female judge would be better able to understand the issues in a birth control lawsuit, a personal injury lawyer representing Paragard IUD clients told a panel of federal judges Thursday.

Atlanta attorney Robert Hammers urged the panel to assign a pending Paragard class action lawsuit to U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May — in part because of her gender, Law360reports.

“We believe that she’s the best judge to get this of all (the judges) proposed because she’s a woman and this is a woman’s product dealing with women’s issues,” Hammers told the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Legislation.

Also known as the MDL Panel, the group of seven sitting federal judges is tasked with evaluating whether to transfer similar cases from federal districts around the country to a single federal court. …

A federal judge has granted a request from Elmiron manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, to stop a proposed national Elmiron class action lawsuit from proceeding.

Elmiron is the only oral medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome. Despite being on the market since 1996, the risk of permanent eye damage and vision problems wasn’t associated with Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) until as recently as 2018.

Pigmentary maculopathy, also known as pentosan polysulfate maculopathy, is a new type of macular degeneration linked exclusively to Elmiron use, typically occurring in patients taking the drug for three years or longer. …

Today is the deadline set by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith for the Food and Drug Administration to respond to questions regarding the safety of imported drugs during the ongoing pandemic. More than half of drugs and nearly three-quarters of active ingredients sold in the U.S. are made overseas.

The senators are concerned about reductions in on-site quality inspections of foreign drug manufacturing facilities, which have plunged more than 60% since March. …

Johnson & Johnson intends to appeal a record $2.1 billion talc verdict to the highest court in the land after striking out in the Missouri Supreme Court.

The state high court on Nov. 3 refused to hear J&J’s appeal, letting stand the multibillion dollar jury verdict, the largest award on record to women who claimed that talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer, according to reports in Law.com and Law360.

In 2018, a Missouri jury found that J&J’s asbestos-contaminated talcum powder had led to ovarian cancer in the 22 female plaintiffs and even death in some cases.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen with no safe levels of exposure. …