Late last year, Pennsylvania’s first Xarelto trial concluded with a Philadelphia jury awarding $28 million to an Indiana woman who was injured by the drug. In January of this year, however, the verdict was dismissed due to insufficient evidence in relation to the substantial award. Three other Pennsylvania plaintiffs are requesting leave to amend their complaints. As stated in their request, they wish to “reorganize the allegations and provide more details about the actions and inactions that form the bases of already-existing causes of action.”
But Xarelto manufacturers, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson aren’t thrilled about this request.
“Plaintiffs should be required to complete this bellwether stage of the litigation under their existing pleadings,” argued the companies in March. “To allow otherwise, on the very eve of trial, would inject significant prejudice into the administration of these cases.” A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured by Xarelto or any other defective or dangerous drug.
The three remaining Pennsylvania plaintiffs are but a drop in the bucket of the many Xarelto victims nationwide. Currently, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson are facing more than 21,000 Xarelto lawsuits, most of which are pending in multi district litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.
What’s the Problem with Xarelto?
As with all anticoagulants (blood thinners), Xarelto carries the risk of excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging, but unlike its predecessor, warfarin, there is no antidote to stop internal bleeding caused by Xarelto. In the past, when someone developed internal bleeding from warfarin, they would be administered a combination of fresh blood plasma and vitamin K and the bleeding would quickly cease. But this does not work with bleeding in Xarelto patients. As a result, many have developed serious health problems, and some have died.
The first lawsuit related to Xarelto was filed in 2014. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of patients began coming forward, claiming that the drug had caused them serious harm, including:
- Brain hemorrhage
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Rectal bleeding
- Epidural hematoma
- Pulmonary embolism
- Death
Since then, the cases against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson have piled high. Even so, Xarelto continues to be marketed to patients as a lower-maintenance alternative to warfarin.
Misleading Marketing
Plaintiffs in many of the Xarelto lawsuits allege that the drug’s manufacturers knew about the risks but downplayed them to deceive physicians and patients. Case in point—a 2013 marketing campaign claiming that—due to the drug’s safety—patients didn’t need to be bothered with the pesky blood monitoring required of warfarin. As a result, the drug’s popularity soared…and so did injuries. They even marketed the drug’s dosage as “one size fits all.” A MA drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured by Xarelto or any other prescription medication.
Altman & Altman, LLP—Top Drug Injury Law Firm in MA
If you have been injured by a defective or dangerous drug, the legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of accident and injury victims for more than 50 years, and our experienced, knowledgeable attorneys will thoroughly analyze the details of your case before moving forward. When pharmaceutical companies put profits before the health and safety of the general public, they should be held accountable for their negligent actions. Our highly-skilled lawyers will ensure that you fully understand your rights and options before proceeding, and we’ll remain by your side throughout the entire process. We have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients, and we want to help you. Don’t go through this difficult time alone, we can help. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.