Another lawsuit has been filed against Teva over hepatitis C infections. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. was sued after its anesthetic propofol allegedly led some patients to develop hepatitis C. The suit includes three patients who say they were infected with the disease during routine colonoscopies.

This is not the first time such claims have been brought against Teva. According to Bloomberg, Teva still "faces almost 300 lawsuits stemming from a hepatitis C outbreak three years ago in southern Nevada." Bloomberg News added that, "Nevada health officials blamed the reuse of propofol vials for infecting patients with the incurable liver disease." Some lawyers are saying that Teva did not warn doctors that their propofol vials were single use only. Allegedly, the companies already knew that selling propofol in large vials would encourage reuse, increasing risk of blood-borne disease transmission. Bloomberg News also reported that Teva Pharmaceutical claims it is not "responsible for a 2008 hepatitis outbreak in Nevada. "

In court proceedings, Teva blamed physicians and "medical personnel who performed" the colonoscopy procedures for the spread of hepatitis C. Three Las Vegas residents contend that Teva, "along with drug distributors" Baxter International and McKesson Corp., "sold propofol in 'jumbo-sized' vials that encouraged doctors to reuse" the containers. Investigations conducted by Nevada healthcare officials and the CDC "blamed the reuse of propofol vials for infecting patients."

Teva faces nearly "300 lawsuits" related to the alleged outbreaks, according to SEC filings. The first trial about the alleged drug injuries resulted in "more than $500 million in damages" against Teva and Baxter.