Cold-fX makers misled public, case should receive class-action approval: lawsuit
VANCOUVER — The makers of Cold-fX are in court fighting allegations they ignored their own research and misled consumers about the short-term effectiveness of the popular cold and flu remedy.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals (TSX:VRX) was in British Columbia Supreme Court on Monday, opposing an application to grant the lawsuit class-action status.
Vancouver Island resident Don Harrison launched a claim in 2012 against Valeant and its subsidiary, Afexa Life Sciences, over advertising saying that Cold-fX offered “immediate relief of cold and flu symptoms” if taken over a three-day period at the first sign of illness.
Harrison’s notice of claim said Valeant and Afexa continued to “knowingly or recklessly” promote Cold-fX despite evidence the natural-health product only had a possible positive impact after being taken daily for prolonged periods of two-to-six months.