JPML Grants Renewed Bid to Centralize Lipitor Diabetes Actions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has granted a renewed motion to centralize cases alleging a link between Lipitor and type 2 diabetes in the District of South Carolina, noting that the number of involved actions has grown “considerably.”

In the Feb. 18 transfer order, the JPML noted that allegations in the 56 Lipitor actions before the panel are “highly similar” in that they all accuse Pfizer of failing to adequately warn doctors and consumers that the cholesterol-lowering drug can cause type 2 diabetes.

In August, the JPML denied a request to consolidate five constituent Lipitor actions …