Xarelto, one of the dangerous drugs currently on the market, has been blamed for numerous injuries in users as a result of excessive bleeding. Injuries include excessive gastrointestinal bleeding, brain hemorrhaging and death.
In December 2014, a multi-district litigation (“MDL”) was established in the Eastern District of Louisiana. According to court records, 1,231 lawsuits have now been consolidated in that MDL as of August 17, 2015. In one month alone, 400 lawsuits were filed. Currently, “bellwether” cases are being selected for trial.
Xarelto is one of the “new generation” dangerous drugs used to replace warfarin. Xarelto is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer AG. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 for use in patients undergoing knee and hip replacements. The following year, it was approved for use in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation to decrease the risk of stroke.
The new blood thinners are touted as being easier for users because the new drugs do not require dietary restrictions and frequent blood monitoring. However, the new class of anticoagulants lack an antidote to counteract excessive bleeding. Warfarin users can be treated with vitamin K injections, but that is ineffective for the new anticoagulants. Thus, even relatively minor injuries or bleeding can become deadly for Xarelto patients. Many lawsuits allege that the drug maker failed to adequately warn patients of the risk of uncontrolled bleeding when using Xarelto.
Last year, pharmaceutical manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim paid $650 million to settle similar claims involving its anticoagulant, Pradaxa.
The Ohio Xarelto attorneys at Clark, Perdue & List are investigating claims for personal injury and wrongful death as a result of Xarelto use. If you or a loved one have been injured while using Xarelto, contact Clark, Perdue & List.