The Levothyrox case is experiencing a new legal episode. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) announced that it was indicted on Monday, December 5, for “deception” after the change of formula of this drug designed against thyroid problems.
This indictment comes a month and a half after that of the French subsidiary of the German pharmaceutical laboratory Merck, manufacturer of this drug, for “aggravated deception”.
At the heart of this case is the new composition of Levothyrox, which arrived in France at the end of March 2017 and uses the same active ingredient, levothyroxine, but with new excipients. However, patients have complained of many side effects: cramps, headaches, dizziness or hair loss. A criminal investigation was opened in Marseille in March 2018 to shed light, while this drug is used daily by 2.5 million patients in France, according to Merck.
The Agency “strongly contests the accusations” against it
“The ANSM has never denied the difficulties encountered by some patients when switching to the new Levothyrox formula and is constantly and daily concerned about the safety and health of patients”, assures the French agency controlling the safety of medicines in a press release released Monday evening. She “will make its full contribution to the manifestation of the truth but strongly contests the reproaches made against it, because no criminal offense has been committed”she believes.
In June 2019, the ANSM conducted a study on more than two million patients and concluded that the switch to the new formula had not caused any “serious health problems”. This agency is currently the target of a class action by some 1,100 plaintiffs, for “lack of vigilance” et “lack of anticipation”.
In another part, in civil matters, the Court of Cassation had rejected in March the appeal of Merck, condemned in 2020 to compensate more than 3,300 users who suffered from side effects following the change of formula.
In France, less than 100,000 patients are treated with the old formula imported under the name of Euthyrox. The distribution of the old formula, which was to stop in 2020, has been extended at least until the end of 2022.