Friday, June 20, 2008

AstraZeneca - Seroquel: Brennan deposed over diabetes risk

The chief executive of AstraZeneca is set to be deposed today regarding allegations the company hid the risk that its anti-psychotic drug Seroquel could cause diabetes in users.

David Brennan, who led AstraZeneca's U.S. unit in Fairfax before being appointed CEO of the London-based drug maker in 2006, will answer questions in London from attorneys representing thousands of plaintiffs across the United States.

"A lot of very good people have been severely injured for the rest of their life because of the conduct of this company and the effect of this drug," said attorney Paul Pennock of the New York firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which is handling about 2,500 Seroquel cases in federal and state courts.

In all, AstraZeneca said it faces 8,440 personal injury lawsuits from more than 12,000 plaintiffs over Seroquel, a drug developed in Delaware by AstraZeneca's corporate predecessor Zeneca Group.

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