A Canadian law firm has filed class-action lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the manufacturer of Poligrip, and Procter and Gamble, which makes Fixodent, alleging that the zinc in these denture adhesives can cause numerous health problems and that the manufacturers failed to properly warn consumers about these risks.
The lawsuits, filed September 20 by Merchant Law Group, assert that elevated levels of zinc and resulting reduced levels of copper can lead to:
- Zinc poisoning
- Myelopathy
- Neuropathy
- Neutropenia or pancytopenia
- Bone marrow failure
- Anemia
- Central nervous system deficits
- Other neurologic injury
Hundreds of similar lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. against GSK and Procter and Gamble, and some have already gone to trial or been settled out of court. Among other things, these lawsuits allege that the manufacturers:
- Failed to inform consumers that the denture creams contain zinc
- Failed to warn consumers about the potential health risks if too much of the adhesive is consumed
GSK has contended that the products are safe when used as directed, but that some consumers apply more adhesive than directed and use it more than once per day.
Even so, the company announced earlier this year that it would stop manufacturing the Poligrip products and replace them with zinc-free alternatives. In an advisory issued February 18, the company warned consumers about the potential health risks associated with long-term excessive use of zinc-containing denture adhesives, including Super Poligrip Original, Super Poligrip Ultra Fresh, and Super Poligrip Extra Care.
And in August GSK revealed that it plans to settle "the vast majority" of these lawsuits.
Meanwhile, the first lawsuit against Procter and Gamble involving similar claims with regard to Fixodent is set to go to trial in June 2011.
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