Drug Makers Not Required to Include Diagnostic Tips in Labels, Wash. Court Affirms

SEATTLE — Under Washington law, a drug maker is not required to include in its label diagnostic tips for treating doctors, a state appellate court has ruled, upholding summary judgment for GlaxoSmithKline (NSE: GLAXO) in a Lamictal injury case.

On Sept. 9, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division 1, found the Lamictal label sufficiently warned of the risks of toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The court added that under the learned intermediary doctrine, the focus of the warnings should be directed toward the prescribing physician, rather than other treating doctors.

David Falsberg developed TEN, the most severe form of …