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  • Home > Blog > Treatment News > New York Mesothelioma Attorney Praises FDA’s Efforts To Slash Shortages Of Key Cancer-Fighting Drugs
Posted on Monday, Nov 28, 2011

New York Mesothelioma Attorney Praises FDA’s Efforts To Slash Shortages Of Key Cancer-Fighting Drugs

Recent action from the Obama administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address increasing drug shortages could mean relief for some mesothelioma patients who rely on medications for treatment of their disease, New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck said recently.

“People suffering from deadly asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma must have access to the medications they need to fight this terrible disease,” said Belluck, one of the country’s leading legal advocates for mesothelioma victims.

“I am encouraged that the government is focused on working with pharmaceutical companies to make sure mesothelioma patients can get the best available treatments,” Belluck said, responding to a recent “letter to industry” drafted by the commissioner of the FDA.

Noting that annual drug shortages have tripled between 2005 and 2010, the FDA urged drug manufacturers to voluntarily provide quicker notice of impending shortages and to generally improve communication with the government agency in order to address supply issues early. The FDA announced plans to double the number of staffers working on the issue of drug shortages.

Belluck, a partner in the New York City mesothelioma law firm of Belluck & Fox, said critical drugs used to treat asbestos-related mesothelioma have been in short supply, including cisplatin, paclitaxel and doxorubicin.

“It is my hope that the government and manufacturers can work together to prevent a potentially lethal shortage of mesothelioma drugs,” Belluck said.

“During my years of working closely with mesothelioma victims, I have witnessed the unfathomable stress and pain that they must confront as they struggle with this terrible illness — the pain, the fear, the concern for their families and loved ones. The last thing mesothelioma patients should have to worry about is the availability of cancer-fighting medications.”

Belluck emphasized that mesothelioma victims also need skilled, aggressive and experienced legal representation to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve from the companies that exposed them to cancer-causing asbestos in the first place. Competent legal counsel can provide mesothelioma patients with the means to access the medical care necessary for the treatment of their disease, he said.

Because mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, Belluck said it is important for people who are experiencing symptoms to seek medical advice as soon as possible. They should also obtain legal counsel to ensure that they can recover all of the benefits they are entitled to in an asbestos exposure lawsuit.

About Belluck & Fox

Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won over $400 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $12 million.

Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal’s Largest Verdict of the Year. He recently secured verdicts of $32 million and more than $19 million on behalf of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP, won a coveted spot on a list of America’s best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.

For more information, contact the firm at (877) 637-6843 or through the online contact form.