WCVB-TV reports that an employee of the New England Compounding Center (NECC) spoke publicly about the contaminated steroid injections that led to a fungal meningitis outbreak. A federal investigation determined NECC shipped 17,000 vials of tainted preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (MPA)—a steroid used to treat chronic pain—to 23 states. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the outbreak has killed 51 people and sickened 730.
NECC is referred to as a “compounding pharmacy,” which means that by law it was not allowed to manufacture pharmaceuticals for the mass market. However, technician Joe Connolly told “60 Minutes” that he remembered a salesman coming by in 2011 and warning him about an increase in orders. Connolly said his output of drugs increased by a factor of 1,000, and the additional orders made it harder to follow the procedures that kept the drug preparation sterile.
“We became a manufacturer overnight,” Connolly said. “So we were basically trying to have the best of both worlds. It was trying to manufacture without the oversight of a manufacturer.”
There have been multiple lawsuits filed since the outbreak, with at least one seeking class action status. You can visit our website to learn more about the common symptoms associated with this contaminated steroid injection. If you or a loved one contracted a disease or injury associated with this outbreak or have exhibited symptoms indicative of the contamination, fill out the form on this page to have our class action attorneys review your case.
Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, P.C. – Class Action Lawyers
