AbbVie, the largest maker of topically applied testosterone and the focus of the most lawsuits, has joined the other pharmacies in talks with lawyers to settle the claims. According to news reports:
"A federal judge has put a hold on any further proceedings in the massive, years-long nationwide legal action against Abbvie and other makers of so-called testosterone replacement therapy drugs, saying he wants to give both sides time to complete a potential settlement drug to permanently end the litigation.
"On Sept. 10, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly filed an order in Chicago federal court, directing a stay on 'all proceedings involving' Abbvie and the other drugmakers. Judge Kennelly said the parties were directed to 'report on a regular basis … regarding their progress' to a special master appointed by the court to handle the cases. The stay also placed on the shelf any deadlines pending in any of the actions still pending in the courts.
"If the talks ultimately result in a settlement, it could wind to a close a sprawling mass of litigation that has streamed into federal and state courts across the country since 2014, when the first lawsuits landed accusing Abbvie and other drugmakers of downplaying the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions allegedly associated with the use of Androgel and similar testosterone replacement therapy drugs."
"A federal judge has put a hold on any further proceedings in the massive, years-long nationwide legal action against Abbvie and other makers of so-called testosterone replacement therapy drugs, saying he wants to give both sides time to complete a potential settlement drug to permanently end the litigation.
"On Sept. 10, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly filed an order in Chicago federal court, directing a stay on 'all proceedings involving' Abbvie and the other drugmakers. Judge Kennelly said the parties were directed to 'report on a regular basis … regarding their progress' to a special master appointed by the court to handle the cases. The stay also placed on the shelf any deadlines pending in any of the actions still pending in the courts.
"If the talks ultimately result in a settlement, it could wind to a close a sprawling mass of litigation that has streamed into federal and state courts across the country since 2014, when the first lawsuits landed accusing Abbvie and other drugmakers of downplaying the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions allegedly associated with the use of Androgel and similar testosterone replacement therapy drugs."
