North Carolina Senate Panel Drops Drug Firm Liability Shield

A North Carolina legislative committee has removed from a liability lawsuit measure a provision that would have given broad product protections for pharmaceutical companies.

A Senate judiciary panel has deleted language from the House version that would give drug companies immunity from lawsuits that attacked the safety and quality of their product if the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for sale.

Committee chairman Sen. Pete Brunstetter of Forsyth County said that lawmakers will now study the issue. He said senators of both parties have raised concerns about the drug provision late in this year’s session.

Attorney General Roy Cooper has warned such a liability restriction would make it more difficult his office to take actions against drug companies that could result in monetary payments for the state.