Vaccines have been linked with a number of dangerous and deadly conditions, ranging from minor muscular discomfort to full-fledged neurological damage. Aside from inexcusable personal injuries linked to vaccines, a vaccine manufacturer has recently been implicated in a major anti-trust case causing alleged significant financial harm to patients, pediatricians and vaccine distributors.
As a bit of background, vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. is responsible for the production of a wide variety of inoculations, including:
- Conjugate quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine ("MCV4")
- Diphteria, Tetanus, and Pertussis ("DTaP")
- Inactivated Polio Virus ("IPV") vaccines
- Haemophilus influenzae type B ("HIB") vaccines
According to allegations, Sanofi was running a market monopoly on these vaccines, disallowing other competitors to enter the market in any meaningful way. More specifically, plaintiffs allege that pharmaceutical manufacturer Novartis had planned to introduce a competing MCV4 vaccine, but was unable to so due to an elaborate bundling scheme perpetrated by Sanofi. To prevent Novartis from competing, Sanofi began combining all of the above-listed vaccines into a single bundle package for purchase by pediatricians and physicians alike. As a result, Novartis was unable to market its meningitis vaccine at a competitive rate – essentially booting it from the market before it was ever introduced.
Moreover, a group of nearly 27,000 plaintiffs in the case allege that – due to its unfair monopoly – Sanofi had increased prices to unfair levels, creating financial hardship for both patients and practitioners.
In September, U.S. District Court judge Madeline Cox Arleo granted “class action” status to the tens of thousands of plaintiffs claiming financial harm from the monopolization of the meningitis vaccine. Moving forward, the parties will continued toward a likely trial on the issue, during which a jury will decide whether Sanofi is unfairly cornering the vaccine market to the detriment of healthcare professionals and their patients.
If you have questions about a possible vaccine injury, consult with a reputable vaccine injury attorney today.