Daiichi Sankyo modifies US settlement program for olmesartan products litigation

Japanese pharma major Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) has reached an agreement to modify certain aspects of the settlement program, which was entered into and announced on August 1, 2017, on behalf of all defendants, resolving pending product liability litigation related to olmesartan products (brand names: Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor and Tribenzor) against various Daiichi Sankyo and Forest entities.

The US lawsuits allege that these products caused sprue-like enteropathy and other severe gastro-intestinal symptoms.

The settlement program now requires, among other previously agreed-upon thresholds, that at least 97% of all eligible litigants and claimants decide to opt-in to the settlement under certain conditions. At this time, the only claimants eligible to proceed to opt-in to the settlement program are those who have complied with the requirements of the Court and who have already registered with the program.