Opening arguments in a negligence lawsuit by Dee Spears against Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc. are set for today in Orange County.
At issue is the safety of the blockbuster drug, especially in the higher dosages that are used to treat children with cerebral palsy.
It is believed to be the first Botox case alleging a fatal reaction to reach trial, and is one of several pending suits related to the drug's cosmetic and non-cosmetic uses.
The trial comes less than a year after federal authorities mandated "black box" labels that warn of potentially serious reactions to Botox. And it opens a window on the Irvine-based drug maker's own records of reported ill effects, showing that the company knew of some serious problems linked to neurotoxins such as Botox as early as 2005.
More at the source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-botox27-2010jan27,0,1928030.story
