TORONTO, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ - A national class action lawsuit has been
launched on behalf of Canadians who became ill or died as a result of taking
the anti-depressant Serzone, as well as the various generic versions of
nefazodone hydrochloride.
    The class action has been commenced by Steve and Louise Ledyit. Four
years ago, Steve was prescribed Serzone and within months of beginning
treatment, he developed symptoms of what was eventually diagnosed as serious
liver damage. Steve was only 32 years old when he became ill.
    Published reports have linked nefazodone hydrochloride - the active
compound in Serzone and the other generic versions of the drug - to serious
and sometimes fatal cases of liver injury. The liver injuries which have been
reported range from being asymptomatic to cases of severe liver failure
resulting in organ transplantation and at times death.
    These reports emerged in 1994, the year the drug was first sold in
Canada. Since that time, reports of liver injury have increased steadily
around the world. In the summer of 2001, it was reported that there had been
109 reports of serious liver injury related to the use of nefazodone. 16 of
those cases had deadly outcomes.
    Although nefazodone products were removed from European markets in
January of this year, the drug remained available in Canada.
    Following discussions between the manufacturer of Serzone and Health
Canada earlier this year, recent public reports announced that Serzone
products will no longer be available for sale in Canada as of November 27,
2003.
    Joel Rochon of the law firm of Rochon Genova, lawyers for the Ledyits
stated, "Why did it take so long for this drug to be removed from the market?
The serious risks of liver damage from this drug have been known for years.
There are other drugs available for the treatment of depression, so why keep
this drug on the market? This appears to be yet another case of corporate
profiteering taking precedence over public safety. That is simply not
acceptable in Canada."
    Vincent Genova, co-counsel for the Ledyits said, "We want to get some
answers for the Ledyits and the hundreds of thousands of other Canadians who
took this drug. We want to know why the true risks of liver damage were never
clearly or accurately reported to the doctors who prescribed this drug and the
Canadian patients who took it."
    Steve and Louise say that the impact of Steve's illness has been
profound. Steve continues to suffer from symptoms of liver damage and has to
have regular medical monitoring of his liver function. Since the onset of his
illness, he has lost almost 100 pounds and is chronically tired. He says that
if he had known about the possible side-effects of Serzone, he never would
have taken the drug.
    As Steve said, "Nothing can give me back the years I have basically lost
to being sick."
    Louise adds, "We want answers and we want accountability; it's not right
that these companies can put people's lives in danger and just walk away."

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