By Caroline Bullerjahn and Deborah Birnbach (October 10, 2017, 1:54 PM EDT) -- The number of securities class actions filed nationally against publicly traded pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and health care product and services companies has skyrocketed in the last 18 months. These cases are typically filed by shareholders seeking to recover investment losses after a company's stock price drops following the disclosure of a setback or problem experienced by the company with respect to its drugs or products, such as concerns, negative comments or regulatory action from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug trial delays, suspensions or terminations, adverse safety events experienced by patients, or manufacturing or supply problems. Plaintiffs typically assert claims under Sections 10(b), 20(a) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") based upon allegedly false and misleading statements made by the company and its officers and/or directors, and, if the alleged misstatements or omissions are made in connection with a securities offering, under Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933....