GALVESTON - TeAna Anthony is suing Glaxosmithkine LLC after her minor son experienced a near fatal episode after taking one of its medications for his asthma.
According to a lawsuit filed Jan. 19 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 2, Jonathan Anthony "suffered a severe and nearly fatal asthma attack which resulted in a severe anoxic brain injury" after taking Advair in December 2008, more than a year after his physician prescribed the inhalant.
The younger Anthony, who was six at the time of the alleged incident, joins his mother as a plaintiff in the suit.
Court papers explain that Advair contains fluticasone, a steroid, and salmeterol, an agonist, and was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000.
"Since that time, clinical studies have shown that salmeterol is associated with rare serious asthma episodes or asthma-related deaths," the suit says.
It insists "the defendant knew or should have known that children using Advair were at an increased risk of serious asthma episodes or asthma-related deaths."
Glaxosmithkline, formerly known as Smithkline Beecham Corp., was negligent in the formulation, design, marketing and sale of Advair and failed to adequately warn and provided false warnings to users and physicians pertaining to any associated risks, the suit says.
Consequently, the plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages.
They are represented by Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers LLP.
Galveston County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Barbara Roberts is presiding over the case.
Cause No. 66,781