Preview Newsletter
XARELTO Media Monitoring Week of 2/13/15
-
Xarelto Lawsuits Are Not Class Actions
Feb 12, 2015 | Onder Law Firm
By PR Web
National attorneys handing Xarelto lawsuits at the Onder Law Firm have consulted with hundreds of individuals regarding their experiences with severe internal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke possibly related to the pharmaceutical drug Xarelto. People seeking legal representation for bleeding incidents often wonder whether Xarelto lawsuits are class action lawsuits; Xarelto attorneys have added new information to their website to explain the answer to this common question. -
Federal Multidistrict Litigation Schedules February Status Conference
Feb 7, 2015 | PR Web
By Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) filed on behalf of patients who were allegedly harmed by the blood thinner continue to move forward in the multidistrict litigation underway in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Bernstein Liebhard LLP reports. According to the Court’s calendar, the litigation’s next monthly Status Conference will be convened on Friday, February 27th, at 9:00 a.m. (In Re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, No. 2592) -
Tenn. Man Files Xarelto Lawsuit for Bleeding Injuries
Feb 13, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Amanda Antell
Tennessee plaintiff Major P. is suing Janssen and Bayer Pharmaceuticals for the injuries he allegedly suffered after taking their anticoagulant drug, Xarelto. Major alleges that as a direct result of the medication, he suffered severe internal bleeding that required hospital intervention. -
Woman files lawsuit against Xarelto manufacturers
Feb 12, 2015 | Williams Kherkher
A woman previously prescribed Xarelto filed a lawsuit against the drug manufacturers, claiming she experienced blood clotting problems after taking the medication, a February 3 article of The Madison-St. Clair Record stated. -
FDA Hides Evidence of Fraud, Misconduct in Medical Trials
Feb 11, 2015 | Public Health Watchdog
As the nation’s regulatory agency, the purpose of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to protect public health. According to an article published in Slate, however, the agency has a history of covering up fraud and wrongdoing in medical trials. The author of the article is Charles Seife, a journalist and professor at New York University, “For more than a decade, the FDA has shown a pattern of burying the details of misconduct. As a result, nobody ever finds out which data is bogus, which experiments are tainted, and which drugs might be on the market under false pretenses.” Seife says. -
Xarelto Lawsuit Says Drug Caused Near Fatal Bleed Out
Feb 9, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Jessica Tyner
Xarelto has only been on the market for a few years, but there are already hundreds of complaints that the blood thinner causes excessive bleeding that can’t be reversed. These reports of injuries have led to dozens of Xarelto lawsuits accusing the drug’s manufacturer of failing to adequately disclose the risks of uncontrollable bleeding. -
Xarelto Lawsuit MDL Created in Pennsylvania
Feb 9, 2015 | The Legal Examiner
By Gregory Spizer
The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania recently granted a motion to create a Xarelto litigation mass tort program in Philadelphia. This follows the establishment of a Xarelto multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Louisiana in December. -
Blood Thinners Xarelto and Pradaxa Lead to Multiple Lawsuits
Feb 8, 2015 | The Keener Law Firm
By Russell Keener
*This article is sponsored by The Keener Law Firm. The drug Xarelto may not be a household name yet but we are likely to be hearing a lot more about this anticoagulant over the next year. That’s because Xarelto is the subject of numerous lawsuits from patients who claimed it caused sudden and unforeseen bleeding. In some cases taking the blood thinning drug proved to be fatal. -
2015 Sees New Xarelto Lawsuits Filed
Feb 8, 2015 | Lawyers & Settlements
By Heidi Turner
With multiple Xarelto lawsuits consolidated into a multidistrict litigation for pretrial proceedings, more plaintiffs are coming forward and filing their own Xarelto side effects lawsuits. As of the time of consolidation there were 21 lawsuits pending in 10 districts, but that number is likely to grow as more lawsuits are filed. -
Weitz & Luxenberg's Relkin Appointed to Xarelto MDL Leadership Team
Feb 13, 2015 | Sen 2 Press
By Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.,
Ellen Relkin, of counsel attorney with Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., has been named to the plaintiffs' steering committee created by judicial order to facilitate lawsuits against the makers of the anticoagulant drug Xarelto, the personal injury and mass tort law firm today announced. -
Morgan & Morgan’s Michael Goetz Appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in Xarelto Litigation
Feb 12, 2015 | PR Web
By Morgan & Morgan
Morgan & Morgan is proud to announce that the Honorable Judge Eldon E. Fallon has appointed attorney Michael Goetz to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation* for the anticoagulant drug Xarelto. As a member of the PSC, Goetz will be responsible for coordinating pre-trial discovery, which includes retaining expert witnesses, taking depositions and managing important document requests. The PSC will also develop an overall case strategy and prepare the very first cases for trial. -
Philadelphia Firms Appointed to Lead State and National Xarelto Litigation
Feb 11, 2015 | PR News Wire
By Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC
Philadelphia attorneys Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC, Frederick Longer of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, and Dr. Mark Alan Hoffman of Ross Feller Casey LLP have been appointed to the Plaintiff's Steering Committee in the litigation against Xarelto®, a widely prescribed blood thinning medication manufactured by Bayer and marketed by Janssen. Federal JudgeEldon E. Fallon of Louisiana made the Plaintiff's Steering Committee (PSC) appointments. -
Xarelto Injury Law Firms Selected for Leadership Positions by Judge Eldon Fallon
Feb 11, 2015 | Texas Injury Law Blog
By Majed Nachawati
*This article is sponsored by Fears Nachawati Attorneys & Counselors at Law. Xarelto attorney leadership positions have been selected for the Xarelto lawsuits previously filed, consolidated, coordinated and assigned to Judge Eldon Fallon. Out of 100 Xarelto injury lawsuits filed, Judge Fallon selected a group of plaintiffs’ attorneys to serve in a variety of leadership roles. Judge Fallon appointed twelve attorneys to leadership positions who are charged with various pretrial procedures including, but not limited to conducting discovery, speaking on behalf of plaintiffs at hearings and negotiating prospective settlements with defendants, Bayer, Janssen and Johnson & Johnson. The leadership roles were created to minimize duplicative discovery and to serve all parties involved without conflicting rulings from multiple judges. -
Dianne M. Nast Appointed to Plaintiff's Steering Committee in Xarelto Litigation
Feb 10, 2015 | PR News Wire
By NastLaw LLC
*This article is sponsored by NastLaw LLC. Philadelphia lawyer Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC has been appointed to the Plaintiff's Steering Committee in the litigation against Xarelto®, a widely prescribed blood thinning medication manufactured by Bayer and marketed by Janssen. Federal Judge Eldon E. Fallon of Louisiana made the Plaintiff's Steering Committee appointments and also appointed Philadelphia lawyers Frederick Longer of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, and Dr. Mark Alan Hoffman of Ross Feller Casey LLP. -
Beasley Allen lawyer Andy Birchfield appointed to leadership role in Xarelto blood thinner multidistrict litigation
Feb 10, 2015 | Beasley Allen
Andy D. Birchfield, Jr., Principal & Mass Torts Section Head at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., has been named Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) surrounding blood thinner medication Xarelto. He was appointed by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is overseeing the MDL in United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Plaintiff Attorney Press Releases
Plaintiff Attorney Blogs
Plaintiff Steering Committee
Full Text of Stories Below
-
Xarelto Lawsuits Are Not Class Actions
Feb 12, 2015 | Onder Law Firm
By PR Web
National attorneys handing Xarelto lawsuits at the Onder Law Firm have consulted with hundreds of individuals regarding their experiences with severe internal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke possibly related to the pharmaceutical drug Xarelto. People seeking legal representation for bleeding incidents often wonder whether Xarelto lawsuits are class action lawsuits; Xarelto attorneys have added new information to their website to explain the answer to this common question.
Jim Onder explains, “People worry that if their Xarelto lawsuit is going to be swept into a large national class action, their experience will become a number on a tally list and any potential compensation they receive will not take into account their particular circumstances. These are people who have suffered immensely, or who have recently lost a loved one. We want the public to know that Xarelto lawsuits are not part of a class action. Furthermore, each and every claim matters.”
In fact, Xarelto lawsuits have been consolidated, but as a multidistrict litigation (MDL) rather than a class action. “Multidistrict litigation is a legal process that allows certain elements of these cases – which do have some significant overlap, in that they are making the same types of allegations against a set group of defendants – to be completed all at once, in an efficient manner,” says Onder. “Additionally, we often find that consolidating individuals’ cases together through MDL yields strength to oppose a large corporation.”
The consolidation of Xarelto lawsuits was ordered by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) during December of 2013; now known as Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2592), the lawsuits have been consolidated in U.S. District Court in Louisiana, according to court documents. Despite an argument from the defense that differing medical histories of the plaintiffs made consolidation unfavorable, the panel deemed there was a significant common issue across all Xarelto lawsuits: according to court documents, persons having filed a Xarelto lawsuit allege that the drug’s warning for side effects such as internal bleeding and other risk information contained on the product label was inadequate.
Lawyers representing clients nationwide for the Onder Law Firm are now accepting claims from individuals and families of individuals who suffered from severe internal bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke and also have a history of taking Xarelto. Lawyers are investigating these inquiries for possible Xarelto lawsuits. The Onder Law Firm is renowned for its achievements in product and consumer safety litigation, with a strong track record of winning meaningful settlements for clients. The firm is nationally-renowned for its work on window blind strangulation, and has notable expertise in fighting on behalf of individuals against powerful corporations. Individuals and the family members of individuals who have suffered from internal bleeding and have taken Xarelto are eligible for a no-cost, no-obligation Xarelto lawsuit case review, and may contact the firm through its Xarelto Contingency Lawsuit website. The firm provides information on bleeding warnings and Xarelto lawsuit news.
The Onder Law Firm also welcomes Xarelto lawsuit inquiries from other law firms, either to handle these inquiries or work as co-counsel.
-
Federal Multidistrict Litigation Schedules February Status Conference
Feb 7, 2015 | PR Web
By Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) filed on behalf of patients who were allegedly harmed by the blood thinner continue to move forward in the multidistrict litigation underway in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Bernstein Liebhard LLP reports. According to the Court’s calendar, the litigation’s next monthly Status Conference will be convened on Friday, February 27th, at 9:00 a.m. (In Re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, No. 2592)
“Our Firm is representing a number of Xarelto plaintiffs who allegedly experienced dangerous internal bleeding and other complications related to the use of this blood thinner. We are pleased that the federal litigation is progressing, and look forward to the Status Conference later this month,” says Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective devices and drugs including Xarelto. The Firm is currently offering free and confidential case evaluations to individuals who allegedly sustained life-threatening episodes of internal bleeding, strokes, deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism caused by Xarelto.
Xarelto Litigation
Xarelto was cleared for sale by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2011, and is currently approved to prevent strokes in people with atrial fibrillation; as a treatment for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; and to prevent deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. Like all blood thinners, Xarelto can sometimes cause patients to experience internal hemorrhaging. However, no reversal agent has yet been approved to stop Xarelto bleeding.*The federal Xarelto litigation was established in December 2014 to allow all federally-filed cases alleging injury from the medication to undergo coordinated pretrial proceedings. Court records indicate that nearly 90 claims have been filed in the proceeding on behalf of individuals who allegedly experienced internal bleeding, strokes, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and other serious complications related to the use of Xarelto. Among other things, plaintiffs claim the drug's manufacturers wrongly marketed Xarelto as a superior alternative to warfarin, a blood thinner that has been on the market for decades. While there is no antidote to stop Xarelto bleeding, bleeding from warfarin can be stopped via the administration of vitamin K.
Patients who allegedly suffered life-threatening episodes of Xarelto bleeding and other complications may be entitled to compensation for their injury related damages. Learn more about filing a Xarelto lawsuit by visiting Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s website, or by calling 800-511-5092 to schedule a free, no obligation case review.
-
Tenn. Man Files Xarelto Lawsuit for Bleeding Injuries
Feb 13, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Amanda Antell
Tennessee plaintiff Major P. is suing Janssen and Bayer Pharmaceuticals for the injuries he allegedly suffered after taking their anticoagulant drug, Xarelto. Major alleges that as a direct result of the medication, he suffered severe internal bleeding that required hospital intervention.
Like many patients across the United States, Major had been prescribed Xarelto to treat his atrial fibrillation symptoms, which included stroke prevention, according to his Xarelto bleeding lawsuit. Ideally, this medication would have prevented blood-clotting in the plaintiff’s brain and allowed for a healthier and comfortable lifestyle.
Major began taking Xarelto on March 15, 2014, but he only took the blood thinner until May of the same year, when the alleged bleeding event occurred, which resulted in life-threatening injuries that required emergency medical intervention and hospitalization.
Major is filing this Xarelto lawsuit against Janssen and Bayer for failing to protect him against these injuries, claiming that the warning label did not sufficiently explain the bleeding risks. Additionally, the label failed to mention that there was no reversal agent and did not call for frequent blood monitoring.
Major argues that the companies should have included stronger precautions on Xarelto’s label and given more information about such Xarelto bleeding side effects to his doctor.
Furthermore, Major’s Xarelto uncontrollable bleeding lawsuit claims that Janssen and Bayer had the civic responsibility to warn Major and other patients of all Xarelto side effects because consumers rely on the accuracy of the given information. Major insists that he never would have used Xarelto if he had known about the possibility of bleeding injuries.
So for being allegedly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug, Major is suing Janssen and Bayer Pharmaceuticals. The charges include: negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.
This Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 15-cv-00032, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Chattanooga Division.Overview of Xarelto Complications
Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is part of a new generation of blood thinners that is typically prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation, who are typically at high risk for a stroke. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, and was released as a joint effort by Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals to be a competitor to Warfarin and the other new generation anticoagulants on the market at the time such as Pradaxa.
Pradaxa, released by Boehringer Ingelheim, had been approved a year earlier and was the first drug approved after Warfarin for the purposes of an anticoagulant.
Soon after its release, Xarelto had proven to be a marketing success for Bayer and Janssen as its sales outranked Pradaxa in profits and popularity. Unfortunately, it did not save Xarelto from its intense scrutiny from the legal community and general public after it was discovered that it may have had the same design defect as Pradaxa.
Boehringer recently settled Pradaxa lawsuits for millions of dollars after plaintiffs reported suffering uncontrollable bleeding injuries after ingesting the drug. Xarelto has been indicated to cause the same complication, which has caused a major legal movement against Bayer and Janssen.
According to the Xarelto lawsuits, Xarelto lacks a reversal agent for bleeding injuries and does not require dosage adjustments, contrasting greatly with the originally preferred anticoagulant, Warfarin. For this reason, medical experts now recommend that physicians use a different medication or method to prevent further bleeding injuries.
While the new generation anticoagulants are now being closely observed for bleeding injuries, it does not help the patients who were already injured by the drug’s side effects. Across America, thousands of patients are filing Xarelto lawsuits against Bayer and Janssen, alleging product liability charges.
-
Woman files lawsuit against Xarelto manufacturers
Feb 12, 2015 | Williams Kherkher
A woman previously prescribed Xarelto filed a lawsuit against the drug manufacturers, claiming she experienced blood clotting problems after taking the medication, a February 3 article of The Madison-St. Clair Record stated.
According to the lawsuit filed by Sonja Lemoins, her blood failed to congeal properly as a result of ingesting Xarelto. The defendants, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Research and Development, allegedly failed to warn of the possibility of gastrointestinal bleeding and anti-coagulation as a result taking Xarelto. The lawsuit also claimed that Xarelto makers had exaggerated its effectiveness in reducing stroke risks and systemic embolism. Lemoins reportedly is asking over $4.35 million in compensation–excluding other fees related to the lawsuit.
The pharmaceutical lawyers of Williams Kherkher represent individuals who have taken Xarelto and have experienced adverse side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding. If you are in such situation, we may be able to help you secure financial aid to cover all your hospitalization and medications. Find out how we may work for you today by calling (800) 220-9341.
-
FDA Hides Evidence of Fraud, Misconduct in Medical Trials
Feb 11, 2015 | Public Health Watchdog
As the nation’s regulatory agency, the purpose of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to protect public health. According to an article published in Slate, however, the agency has a history of covering up fraud and wrongdoing in medical trials. The author of the article is Charles Seife, a journalist and professor at New York University, “For more than a decade, the FDA has shown a pattern of burying the details of misconduct. As a result, nobody ever finds out which data is bogus, which experiments are tainted, and which drugs might be on the market under false pretenses.” Seife says.
The article points to documents related to an FDA inspection, emphasizing that key components are redacted. The reader is left not knowing what drug was studied, the name of the study and how the data was affected by misconduct. Seife and his students looked at documents related to 600 clinical trials where a researcher failed an FDA inspection. Only in 100 reports were they able to find the study, the drug and the identity of the pharmaceutical company.
Hiding this information impacts both consumers as well as researchers and physicians, who often make decisions based on data clinical trials. Seife says the FDA is aware of dozens of studies with questionable data but has done nothing. He cites the RECORD 4 study, which was one of four large clinical trials used as evidence for the safety and efficacy of the anti-clotting drug Xarelto (rivaroxaban). RECORD 4 involved thousands of patients and clinical sites in more than a dozen countries around the world. The FDA inspected or had access to external audits of 16 sites, the article says. Seife refers to the trial as “a fiasco”. Apparently, the agency found falsified data at Dr. Craig Loucks’ site in Colorado and “systematic discarding of medical records” at Dr. Ricardo Esquivel’s site in Mexico. In half the sites, the FDA found misconduct, fraud, suspicious behavior and other practices that were so questionable the data had to be discarded. “The problems were so bad and so widespread that, contrary to its usual practice, the FDA declared the entire study to be ‘unreliable.’” Seife writes.
A number of lawsuits have bee filed over Xarelto. The drug has come under increased scrutiny amidst reports of uncontrollable bleeding. Plaintiffs allege that the drug was marketed as being superior to warfarin, an older drug that requires blood monitoring. Xarelto has raised safety concerns because unlike warfarin, there is no antidote to reverse bleeding if it occurs.
Despite everything the FDA discovered in the Xarelto RECORD 4 trial, data from RECORD 4 continues to remain in The Lancet without any indication about falsification or wrongdoings. “This means that physicians around the world are basing life-and-death medical decisions on a study that the FDA knows is simply not credible.” says Seife. According to this article, this type of behavior is not simply miscommunication or oversight. Apparently, the agency even resisted attempts by Congress to obtain more information. “Every excuse under the sun has been used to create roadblocks,” said Sen. Charles Grassley in relation to problems with clinical trials of the antibiotic Ketek. “even in the face of congressional subpoenas requesting information and access to FDA employees.”
-
Xarelto Lawsuit Says Drug Caused Near Fatal Bleed Out
Feb 9, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Jessica Tyner
Xarelto has only been on the market for a few years, but there are already hundreds of complaints that the blood thinner causes excessive bleeding that can’t be reversed. These reports of injuries have led to dozens of Xarelto lawsuits accusing the drug’s manufacturer of failing to adequately disclose the risks of uncontrollable bleeding.
A product of Janssen (subsidiary to Johnson & Johnson), Xarelto was marketed as a better and safer alternative to Coumadin/warfarin, which had been the only blood thinner available in the US for several decades. However, Xarelto bleeding incidences have occurred in hundreds of patients, sometimes with fatal results. There’s also no antidote to Xarelto bleeding like there is with Coumadin. Combining the lack of an antidote with no medical monitoring and no warning of excessive bleeding has become a dangerous cocktail. It’s why Illinois plaintiff William H. has become the latest alleged victim of Xarelto bleeding to file a lawsuit on September 10, 2014.
Coumadin doesn’t come without side effects, although they’re clearly stated. Excessive bleeding can occur, which is why patients on Coumadin are required to be under medical monitoring while taking the drug. Janssen marketed Xarelto as not having that bleeding risk and attracted patients and physicians alike with promises of no need for medical monitoring.
William found this to be the contrary. His Xarelto lawsuit claims:
“Defendants concealed their knowledge of Xarelto’s defects from Plaintiff, the Food and Drug Administration (FD), the public in general, and/or the medical community specifically. These representations were made by Defendants with the intent of defrauding and deceiving Plaintiff, the public in general, and the medical and healthcare community in particular, and were made with the intent of inducing the public in general, and the medical community in particular, to recommend, dispense and/or purchase Xarelto for use to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, to treat DVT and PE, to reduce the risk of recurrence of DVT and/or PE, and for prophylaxis of DVT for patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery, all of which evinced a callous, reckless, willful, depraved indifference to health, safety and welfare.”
Even though William survived, it was not without consequences.
“As a result of the foregoing acts and omissions, the Plaintiff was and still is caused to suffer serious and dangerous side effects includinginter alia bleeding, as well as other severe and personal injuries which are permanent and lasting in nature, physical pain and mental anguish, diminished enjoyment of life, expenses for hospitalization and medical treatment, and loss of earnings,” his Xarelto lawsuit says.
William first started taking Xarelto in Illinois on June 4, 2013. Just a few days later, he “experienced hemoptysis on or about June 11, 2013 and was caused to suffer a bleed that required hospitalization from the use of Xarelto. As a direct and proximate result of the use of Defendants’ Xarelto, the Plaintiff suffered serious and dangerous side effects including, bleeding, as well as other severe and personal injuries which are permanent and lasting in nature, physical pain and mental anguish, including, diminished enjoyment of life, expenses for hospitalization and medical treatment, and loss of earnings.”A Close Call
It’s claimed by all Xarelto lawsuit Plaintiffs that the drug makers intentionally under-warned of the risks and should have (or did) know about the full Xarelto side effects before going to market.
“Defendants spent significant money in promoting Xarelto, which included at least $11,000,000.00 spent during 2013 alone on advertising in journals targeted at prescribers and consumers in the U.S. In the third quarter of the 2013 fiscal year, Xarelto was the number one pharmaceutical product advertised in professional health journals based on pages and dollars spent,” William claims in his Xarelto bleeding lawsuit.
William is suing for negligence, breach of warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, and violation of Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act.
The lawsuit is William H. v. Janssen Research & Development et al.,Case No.: 14-988-NJR-PMF in the United States District Court Southern District of Illinois, Benton Division.
-
Xarelto Lawsuit MDL Created in Pennsylvania
Feb 9, 2015 | The Legal Examiner
By Gregory Spizer
The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania recently granted a motion to create a Xarelto litigation mass tort program in Philadelphia. This follows the establishment of a Xarelto multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Louisiana in December.
Xarelto is prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation and to reduce blood clot risk. About 130,000 patients were prescribed Xarelto in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2012, according to the Huffington Post.
Anyone who suffered internal bleeding while taking Xarelto, an anticoagulant, may be eligible to file a Xarelto lawsuit against Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals division. The current lawsuits allege manufacturers failed to warn patients to monitor their blood levels to determine bleeding risk and adjust dosage if necessary. Failure to check blood levels can put patients at risk for internal bleeding which can lead to death or extended hospitalization. Currently, there is no antidote to reverse the effects of Xarelto bleeding.
If you or a loved one experienced bleeding from Xarelto, contact a Xarelto lawyer to find out if you qualify for compensation. Filing a Xarelto lawsuit can force the manufacturers to take responsibility for injuries caused by the dangerous drug.
-
Blood Thinners Xarelto and Pradaxa Lead to Multiple Lawsuits
Feb 8, 2015 | The Keener Law Firm
By Russell Keener
The drug Xarelto may not be a household name yet but we are likely to be hearing a lot more about this anticoagulant over the next year.
That’s because Xarelto is the subject of numerous lawsuits from patients who claimed it caused sudden and unforeseen bleeding. In some cases taking the blood thinning drug proved to be fatal.
The drug’s manufacturers, Bayer Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals subsidiary, are facing at least 86 product liability lawsuits over the new-generation anticoagulant. These personal injury and wrongful death claims are pending in 24 different federal courts.
Medical and legal experts expect several thousands of cases will come forward as more people realize this drug may have been to blame for their conditions.
The Xarelto lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation. This means that bellwether trials will be starting later this year or next.
There’s another reason why the Xarelto lawsuits will take more prominence. The American population is aging as the Baby Boomer generation retires meaning there is greater demand for anticoagulants such as Xarelto, to help prevent blood clots and strokes.
Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) is one of three fairly new drugs that have arrived on the market to challenge the market dominance of Coumadin (warfarin). Warfarin has been around for five decades and has been the go-to anticoagulant.
The drug companies that manufacture Xarelto have spent big bucks to challenge the dominance of Coumadin and they are spending massive amounts of money in an effort to persuade doctors that drugs like Xarelto have benefits over Coumadin, and are worth giving a try. The bleeding issue could compromise this effort but we know from experience that big drug companies won’t let an issue such as patient safety stand in the way of their making money.
The manufacturers of Xarelto, Pradaxa and Eliquis – three blood thinners that are considered challengers to Coumadin – have spent millions of dollars between them on doctors and teaching hospitals. Such efforts, according to the New York Times, included treating doctors to dinner, remuneration for promotional speeches, consulting jobs and “educational” gifts.
This is something of an ethical minefield and it’s easy to cross a line The New York Times report noted that several manufacturers, including the makers of Xarelto, have already been criticized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for improper promotion and marketing practices.
The problem with Xarelto can occur when there is an unforeseen and sudden Xarelto Bleeding Issue. Patients on warfarin also have to be aware about the potential for a bleeding issue, caused when blood that has been thinned and is allowed to flow freely through a ruptured blood vessel or a wound loses its capacity to clot, and therefore, halt the bleeding.
However, in the case of Coumadin, Vitamin K can be administered in the midst of a hemorrhage – quickly reversing the thinning properties of Coumadin, helping to halt the bleeding. There is no fallback to reverse Xarelto, according to reports.
In the Xarelto lawsuit plaintiffs have claimed that they were not made aware that some serious Xarelto side fffects such as a serious bleeding issue could not be reversed, as it can with warfarin.Pradaxa, another anticoagulant has also resulted in lawsuits. Pradaxa is a twice daily pill manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2010. The drug is intended prevent strokes in patients with an irregular heartbeat which is called atrial fibrillation. It was the first new oral treatment for that use since warfarin was introduced back in the 1950s.
“The good news is you now have an alternative to warfarin,” said Dr. Alan Jacobson, director of anti-coagulation services at the Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare system in California in a Reuters article. “The bad news is you can kill a patient as easily with the new drug as you could with the old drug” if it is not handled properly.”
Drugwatch reported that more than 540 patients died after using Pradaxa, and thousands of other people reported suffering from serious side effects. A settlement was recently reached with more than 4,000 patients who reported very serious side effects from Pradaxa including gastrointestinal, rectal and brain bleeding. They filed lawsuits against Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Because the drug was marketed heavily as safe and effective, doctors wrote millions of prescriptions for the new blood thinner after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in October 2010.
-
2015 Sees New Xarelto Lawsuits Filed
Feb 8, 2015 | Lawyers & Settlements
By Heidi Turner
With multiple Xarelto lawsuits consolidated into a multidistrict litigation for pretrial proceedings, more plaintiffs are coming forward and filing their own Xarelto side effects lawsuits. As of the time of consolidation there were 21 lawsuits pending in 10 districts, but that number is likely to grow as more lawsuits are filed.
One recent lawsuit was filed in January 2015 by a woman who alleges her use of Xarelto resulted in her blood not congealing properly. According to the Madison Record (2/3/15), Sonja Lemoins (St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-35) filed her lawsuit on January 22, alleging that Janssen Research and Development and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals downplayed the risks associated with the use of Xarelto, specifically the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Lawsuits filed against the makers of Xarelto allege the drug - a blood thinner used to prevent strokes - prevents blood from clotting properly, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding. They further allege that Xarelto was marketed as being safe and effective when in fact it was linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and other serious bleeding events, some of which could be fatal.
Xarelto (known generically as rivaroxaban) is in a new class of blood thinners (anticoagulants), widely marketed as being more effective than Coumadin because newer blood thinners reportedly do not require medical monitoring. Coumadin (generic name warfarin), however, has an antidote to uncontrolled bleeding, whereas the newer blood thinners currently have no accepted antidote.When the Xarelto MDL was first approved, there were 21 lawsuits pending in 10 districts. According to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation monthly report, as of January 15, 2015, there were 86 lawsuits pending in MDL 2592 before US District Judge Eldon E. Fallon. That’s more than double the 33 lawsuits that were pending in the MDLas of December 15, 2014.
The defendants had argued against consolidation of the lawsuits, claiming that consolidation would encourage the filing of unmerited copycat complaints. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation disagreed, ruling that consolidation before one judge would likely be more efficient for addressing meritless claims. The panel also ruled that the lawsuits had similar important questions of fact, including whether or not Xarelto’s warning label properly conveyed the risk of side effects and whether or not patients were warned that there was no available antidote to reverse the uncontrolled bleeding.
More lawsuits could join the 86 pending in the multidistrict litigation as the start of the bellwether trials draws near. -
Weitz & Luxenberg's Relkin Appointed to Xarelto MDL Leadership Team
Feb 13, 2015 | Sen 2 Press
By Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.,
Ellen Relkin, of counsel attorney with Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., has been named to the plaintiffs' steering committee created by judicial order to facilitate lawsuits against the makers of the anticoagulant drug Xarelto, the personal injury and mass tort law firm today announced.
The Hon. Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana selected Ms. Relkin along with 11 other attorneys to serve on the committee. They are tasked with helping ensure that the many Xarelto lawsuits heard by Judge Fallon proceed with optimum efficiency, Weitz & Luxenberg said.
Those lawsuits were already on track to receive efficient handling - late last year they were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, the firm noted.
The litigation since then has been officially known as In Re: Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products, MDL No. 2592. Ms. Relkin will serve on the plaintiffs' steering committee for at least a one-year term, according to the judicial order.
Ms. Relkin was chosen to serve on the committee in part because of her past proven strong leadership skills; in other mass-tort litigations she has served or continues to serve on plaintiffs' steering committees or in the role of liaison counsel, Weitz & Luxenberg indicated.
Xarelto Side Effects:
Xarelto became the subject of a large number of lawsuits because some patients who take it suffer potentially dangerous side effects, such as the risk of unstoppable bleeding, the firm said.
Anticoagulant Xarelto may be prescribed to reduce the risk of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, especially following knee or hip replacement surgery. Xarelto may also be prescribed to prevent strokes and other clotting events related to atrial fibrillation, Weitz & Luxenberg explained.
Ms. Relkin has been at the forefront of the firm's actions against the makers of Xarelto, which positions her to understand the many intricacies of these cases, the firm said.
As a member of the MDL plaintiffs' steering committee, Ms. Relkin will help conduct all pretrial discovery, coordinate trial team selection, explore all settlement options, and keep the plaintiffs' attorneys who are not on the steering committee apprised of developments in the MDL, the judicial order specified.
Experienced Litigator:
Ms. Relkin began the practice of law in 1984, following completion of legal studies at Rutgers University Law School. She is admitted to practice law in four jurisdictions: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. In New Jersey, Ms. Relkin holds state Supreme Court-issued certification as a Civil Trial Attorney, the firm reported.
Weitz & Luxenberg said the focus of Ms. Relkin's practice is pharmaceutical/medical-device product liability and environmental toxic torts. Ms. Relkin has amassed many honors over the years, including designation as both a New Jersey and New York "Super Lawyer."
Ms. Relkin, the firm said, is a member of many prestigious organizations for attorneys and serves in leadership positions within several of them. Most notably, she holds a post on the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Association for Justice.
Ms. Relkin also is a coveted speaker at professional gatherings of attorneys. She has authored and co-authored a number of law journal articles and treatise chapters, Weitz & Luxenberg said.
About Weitz & Luxenberg:
Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., is among the nation's leading and most readily recognized personal injury law firms. Weitz & Luxenberg's numerous litigation areas include: mesothelioma, defective medicine and devices, environmental pollutants, consumer protection, accidents, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Victims of accidents are invited to rely on Weitz & Luxenberg's more than 25 years of experience handling such cases. You can contact the firm's Client Relations department at 800-476-6070 or at clientrelations@weitzlux.com. -
Morgan & Morgan’s Michael Goetz Appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in Xarelto Litigation
Feb 12, 2015 | PR Web
By Morgan & Morgan
Morgan & Morgan is proud to announce that the Honorable Judge Eldon E. Fallon has appointed attorney Michael Goetz to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation* for the anticoagulant drug Xarelto. As a member of the PSC, Goetz will be responsible for coordinating pre-trial discovery, which includes retaining expert witnesses, taking depositions and managing important document requests. The PSC will also develop an overall case strategy and prepare the very first cases for trial.
“Judge Fallon is widely regarded as one of the very best MDL judges in the country and his track record for efficiently resolving large, complex cases is second to none,” Goetz said. “I am honored that Judge Fallon appointed me to the Xarelto PSC and I am fully committed to making meaningful contributions to this litigation on behalf of all plaintiffs and the Court.”
More than 80 lawsuits are currently pending in the Xarelto MDL, according to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s most recent statistics report**. According to court documents, these lawsuits allege that Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Healthcare failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about the risk of life-threatening bleeding with Xarelto. Court documents allege that, unlike other anticoagulant medications on the market, scientists have yet to develop an antidote to reverse the blood-thinning effects of Xarelto.
These lawsuits are seeking compensation for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering and, in the event of death, funeral expenses, according to court documents.
“My hope is that this litigation will create broader awareness in the medical community, the FDA, and the general public about the dangers of Xarelto as the drug is currently being prescribed,” Goetz said.
Attorney Michael Goetz and the team at Morgan & Morgan continue to review potential lawsuits on behalf of Xarelto patients. For a free case review, visit http://www.forthepeople.com/class-action-lawyers/xarelto-lawsuit today.
About Morgan & Morgan
Morgan & Morgan is one of the largest plaintiffs’ law firms in the country with more than 20 offices throughout Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and New York. The firm handles cases nationally involving personal injury, medical malpractice, consumer class actions, and securities fraud, as well as complex litigation against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit Morgan & Morgan online at http://www.forthepeople.com/ for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.
-
Philadelphia Firms Appointed to Lead State and National Xarelto Litigation
Feb 11, 2015 | PR News Wire
By Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC
Philadelphia attorneys Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC, Frederick Longer of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, and Dr. Mark Alan Hoffman of Ross Feller Casey LLP have been appointed to the Plaintiff's Steering Committee in the litigation against Xarelto®, a widely prescribed blood thinning medication manufactured by Bayer and marketed by Janssen. Federal JudgeEldon E. Fallon of Louisiana made the Plaintiff's Steering Committee (PSC) appointments.
Three Philadelphia attorneys were also appointed Plaintiff's Co-Liaison Counsel to lead the Xarelto litigation in Pennsylvania. Michael M. Weinkowitz of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, Daniel N. Gallucci of NastLaw, and Laura Feldman of Feldman & Pinto were appointed by Judge Arnold L. New, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Xarelto®, like Pradaxa®, was created to offer a safer, easier alternative to warfarin for anticoagulation therapy, a drug which had been on the market for over 50 years and requires routine blood testing and dose adjustments. The lawsuit also alleges that Bayer and Janssen failed in their responsibility to advise doctors and patients on how to use Xarelto® in the safest and most effective way – by having routine blood tests. Despite clear evidence of the opportunity to reduce bleeding events by way of a simple blood test (done as infrequently as once a year) in which they could identify patients at an elevated risk of a major bleed (relative to other Xarelto® patients), Bayer and Johnson & Johnson has chosen not to provide this information to its customers.
The Philadelphia firms represent the families of individuals who died after taking Xarelto, and the drug has been linked to hundreds of deaths since it was approved in 2011. According to the lawsuit, prescribing physicians and millions of their patients were not adequately warned about the risks of Xarelto. In 2012 alone, over 2,000 serious adverse events were reported from Xarelto, including 151 deaths.
Despite the hundreds of deaths linked to Xarelto, its manufacturers continue to aggressively market the product to drive more sales. In Q4 2014 alone, Xarelto brought in $414 million for Bayer and Janssen, a 68% increase year over year.
NastLaw LLC is located at 1101 Market Street, Suite 2801, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107. NastLaw LLC focuses its practice in antitrust and mass tort law, including pharmaceutical product liability, medical device product liability, price fixing and other wrongful business practices.
Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman is located at 510 Walnut Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19106. Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman provides specialized representation to plaintiffs in complex personal injury and class action cases, involving practice areas including antitrust, consumer, pharmaceutical and products liability issues, medical malpractice, and other major personal injury cases.
Feldman & Pinto, PC is located at 1604 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The firm concentrates on cases involving complex personal injuries with a focus on pharmaceutical and product liability and medical malpractice.
-
Xarelto Injury Law Firms Selected for Leadership Positions by Judge Eldon Fallon
Feb 11, 2015 | Texas Injury Law Blog
By Majed Nachawati
Xarelto attorney leadership positions have been selected for the Xarelto lawsuits previously filed, consolidated, coordinated and assigned to Judge Eldon Fallon. Out of 100 Xarelto injury lawsuits filed, Judge Fallon selected a group of plaintiffs’ attorneys to serve in a variety of leadership roles. Judge Fallon appointed twelve attorneys to leadership positions who are charged with various pretrial procedures including, but not limited to conducting discovery, speaking on behalf of plaintiffs at hearings and negotiating prospective settlements with defendants, Bayer, Janssen and Johnson & Johnson. The leadership roles were created to minimize duplicative discovery and to serve all parties involved without conflicting rulings from multiple judges.
Xarelto was approved in July of 2011 by the Food & Drug Administration and is one of the newest blood thinners on the market today. This drug belongs to a class of anti-coagulants that is marketed by both Bayer, Janssen and Johnson & Johnson to reduce the risk and formation of blood clots and stroke, treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery. While the medication was intended to help, its adverse side effects were seemingly far more dangerous. Unfortunately, the serious and fatal side effects of this drug were not known until after patients began using it. One of the most dangerous side effects for people taking Xarelto includes death caused by uncontrollable bleeding. To date, there is no anti-dote for the bleeding nor is there an effective way to stop the bleeding.
The litigation process is not over, while Judge Fallon has about 100 cases, there are expected to be thousands more Xarelto lawsuits filed throughout the U.S. Since Xarelto litigation is rapidly growing, a selected group of claims will go through the discovery, deposition and trial process to see how juries respond to the cases. Judges can gauge the outcome of other potential Xarelto settlements based on the outcome of the group of claims that went before juries in the U.S. District Court.
Legal Commentary: The Xarelto lawyers at our firm are currently investigating claims for those affected by Xarelto. From a civil standpoint, our firm has represented thousands of individuals and families who have become victims to Xarelto or its side effects. If you or a loved one has experienced bleeding, blood clots, death or other serious complications while taking Xarelto, contact our pharmaceutical lawyers for a free consultation and case evaluation about your potential Xarelto lawsuit. You can reach us at 866.705.7584 or by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com.
-
Dianne M. Nast Appointed to Plaintiff's Steering Committee in Xarelto Litigation
Feb 10, 2015 | PR News Wire
By NastLaw LLC
Philadelphia lawyer Dianne M. Nast of NastLaw LLC has been appointed to the Plaintiff's Steering Committee in the litigation against Xarelto®, a widely prescribed blood thinning medication manufactured by Bayer and marketed by Janssen. Federal Judge Eldon E. Fallon of Louisiana made the Plaintiff's Steering Committee appointments and also appointed Philadelphia lawyers Frederick Longer of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, and Dr. Mark Alan Hoffman of Ross Feller Casey LLP.
Ms. Nast and NastLaw LLC represent the families of individuals who died after taking Xarelto. The drug has been linked to hundreds of deaths since it was approved in 2011. The lawsuits allege that through their advertising, Janssen and Bayer failed to disclose adequately that there is no means to reverse the anticoagulation effects of Xarelto.
With no known antidote to stop the bleeding, patients who are taking Xarelto can bleed to death from wounds that would not normally be fatal. Unlike other drugs in its category, Xarelto does not require testing that would determine if patients are predisposed to adverse events from bleeding.
According to the lawsuit, prescribing physicians and millions of their patients were not warned about all of the risks of Xarelto. In 2012 alone, over 2,000 serious adverse events were reported from Xarelto, including 151 deaths. Despite the hundreds of deaths linked to Xarelto, its manufacturers continue to market the product to drive more sales. In Q4 2014 alone, Xarelto brought in $414 million for Bayer and Janssen, a 68% increase year over year.
Ms. Nast is known for her leadership in cases like the one against Xarelto. Ms. Nast currently holds positions on the Executive Committee in the General Motors Recall litigation, the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the national Prescription Testosterone Litigation, and the Lipitor Plaintiffs' Committee. Ms. Nast also serves as Co-Lead Counsel in the Zoloft SSRI Birth Defect Litigation, Co-Lead Counsel and Federal-State Liaison and on the Advisory Committee in the Avandia Product Liability Litigation. Ms. Nast is also an active Steering Committee member in the Philadelphia-based NFL Concussion Litigation, where she serves as SubClass Counsel for injured players.
NastLaw LLC is located at 1101 Market Street, Suite 2801, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107. NastLaw LLC focuses its practice in antitrust and mass tort law, including pharmaceutical product liability, medical device product liability, price fixing and other wrongful business practices.
-
Feb 10, 2015 | Beasley Allen
Andy D. Birchfield, Jr., Principal & Mass Torts Section Head at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., has been named Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) surrounding blood thinner medication Xarelto. He was appointed by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is overseeing the MDL in United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. Nearly two dozen lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Corp. were consolidated in Louisiana federal court in December. Xarelto has been linked to serious side effects including internal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, brain bleed and death.
“This is important litigation involving very serious injuries to thousands of individuals. Judge Fallon has appointed a group of excellent lawyers to serve on the Plaintiffs Steering Committee, and I am honored to be in a leadership position. Together, we look forward to advancing the cause of those injured by this prescription drug,” Birchfield said.
Xarelto is a novel oral anticoagulant approved in the United States for six indications including reducing the risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation; treating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and reducing the recurrence of these conditions; and preventing blood clots in patients following knee or hip replacement surgery. The Xarelto lawsuits follow a recent $650 million settlement related to another blood-thinning drug, Pradaxa, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Pradaxa was linked to more than 500 bleeding deaths.
Judge Fallon presided over litigation against Merck & Co. related to its painkiller Vioxx. Birchfield was chosen as Co-Lead Counsel for the Vioxx Litigation MDL PSC in 2005. He was lead counsel or co-lead counsel in five Vioxx trials, including one that resulted in a $51 million verdict against Merck. In 2007, Merck agreed to a $4.85 billion settlement for Vioxx litigation.
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Plaintiff Attorney Press Releases
Plaintiff Attorney Blogs
Plaintiff Steering Committee
Full Text of Stories Below
Add recipients
Suggested