Teva Pharmaceuticals will appeal its share of $500M verdict in case over hepatitis C infection

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Teva plans to appeal share of $500M verdict

NEW YORK — Drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical says it will appeal a $356 million Las Vegas district court verdict awarded to a plaintiff who says he contracted hepatitis C when one of Teva’s drug vials was used by more than one patient.

A jury in Las Vegas ordered Teva and Baxter Healthcare Corp. to pay a combined $500 million in punitive damages in the first of nearly 250 civil cases stemming from a hepatitis C outbreak related to its drug propofol two years ago.

Baxter also plans to appeal the decision.

The drug manufacturer and distributor provided the propofol used by endoscopy clinics at the heart of the hepatitis C outbreak. At least nine — and possibly as many as 114 — patients were infected with the disease.