XARELTO Media Monitoring Week of 3/27/2015

Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel

Plaintiff Attorney Press Releases

1. Xarelto Lawsuits Move Forward Nationwide, With Issuance of New Court Docs in State, Federal Litigations

   Mar 26, 2015 | PR Web

   By Bernstein Liebhard LLP
   
   
   Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) continue to move forward nationwide, with the issuance of new court documents in consolidated litigations currently underway in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. According to an Order dated March 24th, the Court overseeing the federal multidistrict litigation established for Xarelto injury claims in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana will now allow plaintiffs to file cases directly in the proceeding. (In Re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, No. 2592)
2. New Case List Issued For Federal Xarelto Lawsuits Indicates Filings Have Surpassed 300

   Mar 21, 2015 | PR Web

   By Bernstein Liebhard LLP
   
   
   More than 300 Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) are now pending in a federal multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana according to a Docket Report issued by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litgiation on March 16, 2015.

Plaintiff Attorney Blogs

3. Woman Seeks $4.35 Million in Damages for Xarelto Bleeding

   Mar 27, 2015 | The Legal Examiner

   By Eric T. Chaffin
   
   
   On January 22, 2015, another Xarelto lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court. The plaintiff, Sonja Lemoins, claims that after taking Xarelto to help prevent a stroke, she suffered adverse effects. In essence, she states that her blood cannot congeal or clot in a timely manner.
4. Xarelto Bleeding Risks May Decrease Based on Dosage

   Mar 27, 2015 | Top Class Actions

   By Meredith Friesen
   
   
   A March editorial was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (or JAMA), examining the current risks associated with Xarelto bleeding and how the dosage may affect this dangerous health side effect. The author examined how direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) drugs may become safer if the dosage was individualized for each patient’s case.
5. Lawsuit Blames Xarelto on Death from Unstoppable Bleeding

   Mar 26, 2015 | Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Xarelto induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or s

   Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit have been hit with over 300 lawsuits involving uncontrollable bleeding from Xarelto.
6. Xarelto Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Louisiana

   Mar 26, 2015 | The Clark Firm

   A lawsuit has been filed by the son of a man who died from uncontrollable bleeding after taking Xarelto, a popular new blood-thinner that has no reversal agent.
7. New lawsuit targets bleeding risks with Xarelto blood thinnner

   Mar 25, 2015 | Beasley Allen PC

   By Jennifer Walker-Journey
   
   
   Twelve people treated with Xarelto blood thinner have filed a lawsuit in California federal court claiming that they were not sufficiently warned that the drug could cause them to bleed uncontrollably. They all claim the medication caused them gastrointestinal bleeding, rectal bleeding and, in one case, a stroke.
8. Son files Xarelto Wrongful Death Lawsuit

   Mar 25, 2015 | Lombardi & Perry LLP

   Last week, a Tennessee man filed a Xarelto wrongful death lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals and other defendants after his father died as a result of Xarelto internal bleeding.
9. Xarelto Cases Present Several Common Issues

   Mar 25, 2015 | JD Supra Business

   By Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
   
   
   In July 2011, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xarelto, an oral anticoagulant prescribed for prevention of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Based on sales of more than $2 billion, Xarelto has reached “blockbuster” status because of large multimillion-dollar direct to consumer (DTC) advertising campaigns.
10. Attorney: Eliquis Has No Improved Benefit Over Warfarin

    Mar 24, 2015 | Lawyers & Settlements

    By Heidi Turner
    
    
    There may not have been any Eliquis side effects lawsuits filed yet, but based on litigation involving Pradaxa and Xarelto, Eliquis lawsuits may not be far behind. Dr. Shezad Malik, founder of the Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm, says attorneys are interested in speaking with patients who have suffered a bleeding event while on Eliquis.
11. Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over Xarelto Internal Bleeding

    Mar 24, 2015 | About Lawsuits

    By Irvin Jackson
    
    
    Bayer Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary continue to face a growing number of lawsuits that allege side effects of Xarelto caused severe and uncontrollable internal bleeding, with one of the latest being brought by the son of a Tennessee man who bled to death following use of the controversial anticoagulant.
12. Gastrointestinal Bleeding Lawsuit Filed Over Xarelto

    Mar 23, 2015 | Top Class Actions

    By Ashley Vanover
    
    
    A Xarelto bleeding lawsuit was filed against drug manufacturers Bayer Healthcare and Janssen Pharmaceuticals alleging they failed to provide adequate warnings about the safety risks associated with the use of the popular blood thinner.
13. Status Conference Scheduled for XARELTO Lawsuit Attorneys

    Mar 23, 2015 | American Injury Attorney Group

    By Anthony Johnson
    
    
    The judge overseeing the federal Xarelto litigation will meet to discuss the process of moving the litigation forward at a status conference. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered consolidated pretrial proceedings in December 2014 for all Xarelto lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary and Bayer, bringing the cases before a U.S. district judge in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
14. Connecticut Xarelto Lawsuits Filed After Patients Allegedly Experience Uncontrollable Internal Bleeding

    Mar 23, 2015 | Bernstein Liebhard LLP

    Over the past two months, at least four Xarelto lawsuits have been filed in Connecticut on behalf of patients who allegedly experienced uncontrollable internal bleeding following use of the new-generation anticoagulant. According to court documents, all of the complaints have since been transferred to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, where hundreds of similar Xarelto bleeding claims have been consolidated for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
15. Xarelto Lawyer Shares New Update on Xarelto Lawsuits

    Mar 23, 2015 | Van Wey Law PLLC

    Approximately 75 Xarelto lawsuits have been consolidated and transferred to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. All of the cases allege that Xarelto caused uncontrollable, and sometimes fatal, bleeding. The lawsuits allege that the manufacturers conducted massive direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns which failed to disclose to patients that there is no means to reverse the anticoagulant effects of the drug.
16. Latest Xarelto News

    Mar 23, 2015 | The Legal Examiner

    By Craig Kelley
    
    
    The anticoagulant drug, Xarelto, has been the subject of warnings on this site on more than one occasion due to its dangerous bleeding complications with no proven antidote to date. Now reports are coming in pointing to misconduct and discrepancies carried out by Xarelto’s makers to bring even more insult to injuries. There are new reports suggesting that in clinical trials the drug’s safety was falsified and evidence of danger was destroyed.
17. Xarelto Bleeding Attorney Provides Litigation Update

    Mar 21, 2015 | The Legal Examiner

    By Shezad Malik MD JD
    
    
    Last year, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) granted consolidated pretrial proceedings for all federal Xarelto cases filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary over the new-generation blood thinner or anticoagulant.
18. Xarelto Lawsuits are Underway in Multi-district Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

    Mar 20, 2015 | Kreisman Law Office

    By Robert Kreisman
    
    
    More than 25 lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Corporation, in consolidated cases in the Louisiana federal district court regarding the serious side effects of the blood-thinning drug, Xarelto.

Full Text of Stories Below

Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel

Plaintiff Attorney Press Releases

1. Xarelto Lawsuits Move Forward Nationwide, With Issuance of New Court Docs in State, Federal Litigations

   Mar 26, 2015 | PR Web

   By Bernstein Liebhard LLP

   Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) continue to move forward nationwide, with the issuance of new court documents in consolidated litigations currently underway in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. According to an Order dated March 24th, the Court overseeing the federal multidistrict litigation established for Xarelto injury claims in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana will now allow plaintiffs to file cases directly in the proceeding. (In Re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, No. 2592)

   Court papers filed in Pennsyvania’s Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on March 23rd indicate that a Master Long Form Complaint has been approved for use by all plaintiffs who choose to bring suit in that state’s Xarelto mass tort proceeding. (In Re: Xarelto Litigation, Case ID 150102349)

   “Both of these consolidated litigations were established to allow Xarelto lawsuits alleging similar allegations of fact to undergo coordinated pretrial proceedings. The Courts’ actions in these matters will help to promote the judicial efficiency of both proceedings and will simplify the process for filing lawsuits in the future,” says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective medical devices and drugs. The Firm is actively filing Xarelto lawsuits in U.S. courts on behalf of individuals who allegedly suffered a life-threatening internal bleeding episode, a stroke, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism due to their use of this blood thinner.

   Xarelto Litigation 
   Xarelto is a new-generation anticoagulant that was initially approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2011. The blood thinner is now indicated for prevention of strokes in people with atrial fibrillation; the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; and the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. Like any anticoagulant, Xarelto can sometimes cause internal bleeding. However, there is currently no approved antidote for reversing Xarelto bleeding.*

   Court documents indicate that more than 300 Xarelto lawsuits have been filed in the federal litigation underway in Louisiana, while at least 160 cases involving similar allegations are pending in the Pennsylvania mass tort. Among other things, plaintiffs claim that the medication was wrongly marketed as an improvement over warfarin, a blood thinner that has been in use for decades. The lawsuits point out that unlike Xarelto, bleeding associated with warfarin can be stopped via the administration of vitamin K.

   Xarelto patients who allegedly experienced life-threatening episodes of internal bleeding and other complications related to its use may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. 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.

   Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/xarelto-lawsuit/xarelto-bleeding/prweb12613028.htm

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2. New Case List Issued For Federal Xarelto Lawsuits Indicates Filings Have Surpassed 300

   Mar 21, 2015 | PR Web

   By Bernstein Liebhard LLP

   More than 300 Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) are now pending in a federal multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana according to a Docket Report issued by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litgiation on March 16, 2015.

   “Our Firm is currently representing a number of Xarelto lawsuit plaintiffs in federal court. We anticipate steady progress in the growing litigation involving this medication, and will be monitoring developments closely,” says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at the nationwide law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP, who is representing clients who have allegedly been harmed by defective medical devices and drugs including Xarelto.

   Court records indicate that Xarelto lawsuits currently pending in U.S. courts similarly accuse Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Healthcare of failing to adequately warn about the severity of complications that may stem from its use, which may include but are not limited to life-threatening episodes of internal bleeding, as well as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and strokes. (In Re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, No. 2592)

   Xarelto Lawsuits

   Xarelto is an anticoagulant approved in 2011 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation, as well as to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, in addition to other uses. 

   
   Court records indicate that the medication has come under scrutiny since then, however, for its alleged potential to cause episodes of internal bleeding that may turn life-threatening since there is no available antidote to reverse their effects. This complication and several others have been alleged in Xarelto lawsuits now pending in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. Included in their claims are allegations that Johnson & Johnson and Bayer concealed vital safety information from the public and have been improperly marketing their product since 2011 as a more convenient alternative to warfarin, a similar blood thinner that has been on the market for over half a century.

   According to court documents, the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) established for Xarelto lawsuits was created in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana in December 2014 after a federal panel transferred a number of similar cases to the court.

   Xarelto patients who allegedly experienced internal bleeding episodes caused by the blood thinner may be entitled to compensation for out-of-pocket medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. Learn more about the risk for Xarelto internal bleeding when you visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s website, or call 800-511-5092 to schedule a free, no obligation case review.

   Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/xarelto-lawsuit/xarelto-internal-bleeding/prweb12599071.htm

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Plaintiff Attorney Blogs

3. Woman Seeks $4.35 Million in Damages for Xarelto Bleeding

   Mar 27, 2015 | The Legal Examiner

   By Eric T. Chaffin

   On January 22, 2015, another Xarelto lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court. The plaintiff, Sonja Lemoins, claims that after taking Xarelto to help prevent a stroke, she suffered adverse effects. In essence, she states that her blood cannot congeal or clot in a timely manner.

   The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated all federal Xarelto lawsuits into one court in December 2014. According to a January MDL report, nearly 90 lawsuits are now pending in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
   
   PLAINTIFF CLAIMS JANSSEN AND BAYER DOWNPLAYED XARELTO RISKS

   In her complaint, Lemoins states that Xarelto manufacturers, Janssen and Bayer, downplayed the risks associated with taking Xarelto when they were advertising it to consumers. They touted the positive results of studies on the drug, which showed its ability to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, as well as in patients undergoing knee and hip replacement surgery, but they failed to highlight the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and other serious bleeding concerns.

   All anticoagulants carry a risk of bleeding, but plaintiffs like Lemoins claim that manufacturers of Xarelto and other so-called “newer generation” drugs failed to warn patients about the more serious risks. Compared to the industry standard, warfarin, Xarelto brings a greater increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to studies, yet the manufacturers failed to highlight that point.

   In addition, whereas doctors can reverse excessive bleeding with warfarin by employing vitamin K injections, there is no such readily available antidote for Xarelto bleeding, making it more serious and potentially deadly.

   PLAINTIFF SEEKS IN EXCESS OF $4 MILLION IN DAMAGES

   Lemoins includes data in her complaint that claims the defendants spent at least $11 million promoting Xarelto in 2011, while overstating its effectiveness. She adds that after taking Xarelto, she suffered personally, experiencing severe injuries, physical pain, mental anguish, and a decreased enjoyment of life. She brings claims of strict liability, negligent infliction of emotional distress, common law fraud, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks $4.35 million in damages, plus costs and fees.

   The FDA has been watching Xarelto since it was released in 2011. They required a black box warning in January 2014 stating there was no specific antidote to excessive bleeding. Many plaintiffs complain the warning should have been required years before, however.

   XARELTO LINKED WITH HUNDREDS OF INJURIES

   In this and other similar Xarelto lawsuits, plaintiffs claim that though defendants marketed the drug as being a more convenient option to warfarin, that it is, indeed, no safer than the older drug, and that the manufacturers should have done more to warn patients of the risks.

   Whereas warfarin requires regular blood monitoring, Xarelto is marketed as a “one size fits all” medication—a more convenient option for doctors and patients. Plaintiffs claim the defendants failed to make patients aware that in clinical trials, those taking Xarelto had more gastrointestinal bleeds and needed more transfusions than those taking warfarin.

   In 2013, the FDA sent defendants a letter stating a print advertisement for Xarelto was misleading and minimized the risks of the drug. In the first quarter of 2012, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices identified 356 reports of serious, disabling, and fatal injuries where Xarelto was the primary suspect drug.

   Link: http://newyork.legalexaminer.com/defective-dangerous-products/woman-seeks-4-35-million-in-damages-for-xarelto-bleeding/
   

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4. Xarelto Bleeding Risks May Decrease Based on Dosage

   Mar 27, 2015 | Top Class Actions

   By Meredith Friesen

   A March editorial was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (or JAMA), examining the current risks associated with Xarelto bleeding and how the dosage may affect this dangerous health side effect. The author examined how direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) drugs may become safer if the dosage was individualized for each patient’s case.

   Dr. J. Robert Powell wrote about the three new anticoagulants — Xarelto, Eliquis, and Pradaxa — which have been under investigation for allegedly causing gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary bleeding. In his editorial, he pushed for drug safety over marketing, noting that the issue of Xarelto safety is not very different from previous concerns of warfarin safety. According to Dr. Powell, it took several decades before warfarin, the previous leading anticoagulant, became less dangerous to use. 

   In his Xarelto side effects editorial, Powell states, “It is not a coincidence that 3 US-marketed DOACs share the same strategy of 1 dose for all patients and no need for laboratory testing.” He also observed that each patient’s blood is different and can vary in drug plasma concentration, a factor that can influence Xarelto bleeding side effects.

   Furthermore, Boehringer Ingelheim allegedly failed to adequately inform the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the benefits of monitoring patients for Xarelto bleeding while taking their brand name anticoagulant. 

   Powell suggested that Xarelto, as well as the other new anticoagulants, could still work with either a smaller dosage or through more personalized dosage. These precautions might lower the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, pulmonary bleeding, and other Xarelto complications. 

   Xarelto Bleeding

   Xarelto, Pradaxa and Eliquis were each created as alternatives to warfarin, previously considered the most-popular anticoagulant. Warfarin required a strict diet and additional monitoring to use as a blood thinning medication. Drug manufacturers attempted to create an “easier” drug to use that is also more effective as an anticoagulant. 

   The primary problem Xarelto users face is the lack of antidote or bleeding reversal agent. If a warfarin patient begins to experience pulmonary bleeding or gastrointestinal bleeding, there is a vitamin K antidote that can reverse the internal bleeding side effects. There is currently no way of stopping Xarelto side effects. Because of this, thousands of individuals have experienced Xarelto bleeding, many with drastic, if not deadly, consequences.

   Xarelto lawsuits have been filed against the drug manufacturer, bringing forth allegations of failure to warn, negligence, and many other claims including wrongful death and loss of consortium when applicable. It has been argued that Xarelto should not have been introduced to the market without adequate tests, an antidote, or without an adequate warning stating the risks of Xarelto bleeding and the lack of antidote to users and their prescribing doctors. 

   Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Xarelto, Pradaxa, and Eliquis in the past few years. Already, hundreds of millions of dollars have been awarded to Pradaxa victims. Many Xarelto lawsuits are currently awaiting trial in state and federal courts across the nation. 

   If Powell’s advice concerning individuals Xarelto dosing is followed, there may be a decrease in the number of pulmonary bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding cases and complaints being brought before the drug manufacturers and the courts.

   Link: http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/52564-xarelto-bleeding-risks-may-decrease-based-on-dosage/

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5. Lawsuit Blames Xarelto on Death from Unstoppable Bleeding

   Mar 26, 2015 | Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Xarelto induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or s

   Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit have been hit with over 300 lawsuits involving uncontrollable bleeding from Xarelto.

   Most recently, a lawsuit was filed by the son of Tommy Julien, a man from Tennessee who started taking Xarelto in November 2012.

   Xarelto, a blood-thinner, was prescribed to prevent strokes associated withatrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heart rhythm. Less than six months later, in March 2013, Mr. Julien died from uncontrollable bleeding.

   The lawsuit was filed on March 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where at least 311 similar lawsuits involving Xarelto have been centralized in a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2592).

   According to the lawsuit (PDF):

   “Xarelto® is unreasonably dangerous and defective as formulated putting consumers, including Decedent, at an unreasonable risk of suffering needless injuries and death. Defendants … withheld the knowledge of increased risk of irreversible bleeds in users of Xarelto® to prevent any chances of their product’s registrations being delayed or rejected by FDA.”

   Xarelto is that it inhibits blood-clotting, which is good for preventing strokes but bad for patients who need blood clots to stop bleeding. Unlike older blood-thinners, such as warfarin, Xarelto lacks an effective reversal agent to counteract its effects. Not even dialysis can remove it from a patient’s bloodstream.

   In an emergency, doctors might struggle to de-activate Xarelto. By the time a patient is able to form life-saving blood clots, it may be too late. Drug-makers are accused of downplaying this risk information, putting corporate profits above public safety.

   Link: http://www.schmidtlaw.com/lawsuit-blames-xarelto-on-death-from-unstoppable-bleeding/

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6. Xarelto Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Louisiana

   Mar 26, 2015 | The Clark Firm

   A lawsuit has been filed by the son of a man who died from uncontrollable bleeding after taking Xarelto, a popular new blood-thinner that has no reversal agent.

   The lawsuit was filed on March 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. As of March 15, there were 311 lawsuits involving bleeding injuries from Xarelto pending in a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2592).

   The plaintiff, Danny Julien, filed the lawsuit on behalf of his father, Tommy Julien. The elder Mr. Julien started using Xarelto in November 2012 for atrial fibrillation. As a result, he developed irreversible internal bleeding in March 2013 and died from his injuries.

   According to the complaint (PDF):

   “Xarelto® is unreasonably dangerous and defective as formulated putting consumers, including Decedent, at an unreasonable risk of suffering needless injuries and death. Defendants … withheld the knowledge of increased risk of irreversible bleeds in users of Xarelto® to prevent any chances of their product’s registrations being delayed or rejected by FDA.”

   Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a blood-thinning medication that is sold by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceutical unit. Lawsuits accuse the drug-makers for aggressively promoting Xarelto while failing to adequately warn about its bleeding risks.

   Unlike older blood-thinning medications like warfarin, there is no way to “de-activate” Xarelto and reverse its blood-thinning effects. In an emergency, this can mean the difference between life and death. Not even dialysis can remove Xarelto because it binds so tightly to proteins in the bloodstream.

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7. New lawsuit targets bleeding risks with Xarelto blood thinnner

   Mar 25, 2015 | Beasley Allen PC

   By Jennifer Walker-Journey

   Twelve people treated with Xarelto blood thinner have filed a lawsuit in California federal court claiming that they were not sufficiently warned that the drug could cause them to bleed uncontrollably. They all claim the medication caused them gastrointestinal bleeding, rectal bleeding and, in one case, a stroke.

   The latest lawsuit joins hundreds of others around the country popping up in both state and federal court. In December, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated nearly two dozen suits in Louisiana federal court involving bleeding events with the anticoagulant. A month later, a new mass tort program was created in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas to consolidate 73 similar lawsuits involving the Xarelto blood thinner.

   Xarelto is in a new class of blood thinners designed to be an alternative to the long-used warfarin for the treatment and prevention of blood clots in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery, and to reduce the risk of blood clots and strokes in some heart patients. Clinical trials showed the drug was effective, but its safety was called into question after the medication was linked to serious bleeding events, including gastrointestinal bleeds, brain hemorrhages and bleeding deaths. Unlike warfarin, there is no antidote to reverse the blood thinning effects of Xarelto.

   The lawsuits target Xarelto makers Bayer Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson unit Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

   Plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim they would have never used Xarelto had they been sufficiently warned of the bleeding risks. They also claim that the drugs’ makers misinformed patients and doctors when they said patients using the drugs did not need to be monitored.

   The Xarelto lawsuits come on the heels of the recent $650 million Pradaxa settlement. Researchers linked Pradaxa, also a blood thinning medication, to more than 500 deaths. Xarelto blood thinner litigation has been consolidated before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana, who presided over suits against Merck & Co. over its medication Vioxx. The Vioxx litigation resulted in a $4.85 billion settlement in 2007.

   Link: http://www.beasleyallen.com/news/new-lawsuit-targets-bleeding-risks-with-xarelto-blood-thinnner/

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8. Son files Xarelto Wrongful Death Lawsuit

   Mar 25, 2015 | Lombardi & Perry LLP

   Last week, a Tennessee man filed a Xarelto wrongful death lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals and other defendants after his father died as a result of Xarelto internal bleeding.

   The lawsuit was filed by Danny Julien in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where roughly 300 additional Xarelto lawsuits have been consolidated before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon as a multidistrict litigation (MDL). When multiple lawsuits are filed against a common defendant based on common claims in federal courts, they may be consolidated before one judge to serve the convenience of all parties, reduce duplicative discovery, and prevent contradictory rulings.

   In his wrongful death lawsuit, Danny Julien alleges that his father, Tommy Julien, died in 2013 as a result of Xarelto side effects. Tommy Julien began to take Xarelto in November 2012 to prevent blood clots or stroke caused by atrial fibrillation. Just months later, claims Danny Julien, his father suffered severe internal bleeding which caused his death.

   Danny Julien, along with other plaintiffs in Xarelto lawsuits, claims that the makers of the drug, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, knew of the heightened risk of serious internal bleeding but failed to warn of this potentially fatal side effect. They also failed to warn that there is no reversal agent to stop Xarelto internal bleeding.

   When introduced in 2011, Xarelto was aggressively marketed by Janssen and Bayer Pharmaceuticals as a more convenient alternative to the highly prescribed blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin) because patients did not require regular blood tests to ensure proper dosing. However, internal bleeding can be stopped with a dose of Vitamin K in warfarin patients, while there is no such reversal agent for Xarelto internal bleeding. Furthermore, many doctors now state that patients using Xarelto should undergo blood monitoring to identify the risk of internal bleeding.

   Danny Julien claims that his father may have made different decisions about using Xarelto had he been fully aware of the potential side effects of this drug. He is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. If you believe that you may have grounds to pursue compensation for your suffering and damages in a Xarelto lawsuit,contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for a free legal consultation.

   Link: http://www.lombardiperry.com/news/files-xarelto-wrongful-death-lawsuit/

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9. Xarelto Cases Present Several Common Issues

   Mar 25, 2015 | JD Supra Business

   By Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley

   In July 2011, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xarelto, an oral anticoagulant prescribed for prevention of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Based on sales of more than $2 billion, Xarelto has reached “blockbuster” status because of large multimillion-dollar direct to consumer (DTC) advertising campaigns.

   Xarelto’s manufacturers also advertised the drug as a superior alternative to warfarin because Xarelto is taken orally and does not require monitoring with blood tests or any dietary restrictions. The studies revealed an increased risk of internal bleeding compared to individuals who were given a placebo. However, the findings were allegedly downplayed in promotional materials for Xarelto.          

   There were more than 1,000 Xarelto associated serious adverse event Medwatch reports filed with the FDA in the year immediately following the drug’s approval. According to these reports, there were 65 patients’ deaths resulted from the use of Xarelto. The number of adverse event reports jumped to more than 2,000 by the end of 2012.

   Several plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against the makers of Xarelto and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”) has granted Plaintiffs’ request to centralize all the federal Xarelto cases in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana before Judge Eldon E. Fallon.

   The JPML order states that the lawsuits “present a number of individual factual issues.” It also stated that there are several common issues, including the adequacy of Xarelto’s warning label as to the risk of severe bleeding, the results of certain clinical studies, and the alleged need for blood monitoring.

   The lawyers of Searcy Denney represent a number of plaintiffs and their survivors in individual personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits relating to GI bleeds, intracranial hemorrhage, and other bleeding-related injuries attributable to ingestion of Xarelto.                                                  

   Link: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/xarelto-cases-present-several-common-iss-95060/

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10. Attorney: Eliquis Has No Improved Benefit Over Warfarin

    Mar 24, 2015 | Lawyers & Settlements

    By Heidi Turner

    There may not have been any Eliquis side effects lawsuits filed yet, but based on litigation involving Pradaxa and Xarelto, Eliquis lawsuits may not be far behind. Dr. Shezad Malik, founder of the Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm, says attorneys are interested in speaking with patients who have suffered a bleeding event while on Eliquis.
    
    Eliquis (known generically as apixaban) is a newer generation anticoagulant medication and is the most recent of three new drugs in the class, including Pradaxa and Xarelto. All three have been linked to an increased risk of uncontrolled bleeding - a common side effect for anticoagulant medications. But unlike warfarin (known by its brand name as Coumadin), none of the three newer drugs has an antidote to the uncontrolled bleeding.
    
    “Eliquis was approved to prevent strokes, prevent blood clots, prevent pulmonary embolisms and strokes from atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Malik says. “It was introduced in 2012 and its makers - Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb - kicked it off with direct consumer advertising. Its side effects are basically the same increased risk of fatal bleeding as Xarelto and Pradaxa.”
    
    Similar to Pradaxa and Xarelto, Eliquis was marketed as being superior to warfarin because of the lack of blood monitoring required. But as Dr. Malik says, the lack of blood monitoring may be a small benefit when compared to the increased risk of uncontrolled bleeding.

    “The drugs were marketed as being ‘one dose fits all’ but that’s not necessarily true. Patients with kidney disease need a lower dose and unless you have the blood thinning tested, there is no way of knowing if someone is being over- or under-prescribed the drug. Then there is no way of knowing how good Eliquis is compared to warfarin.”
    
    That combined with the lack of an antidote means that Eliquis may have risks that are too high compared with warfarin, an older and less expensive medication, without any increased benefit.
    
    So far, lawsuits have not been filed concerning Eliquis, but attorneys are closely watching how Xarelto litigation goes, and are interested in speaking with Eliquis patients who suffered bleeding events. Pradaxa litigation involved approximately 9,000 lawsuits, the bulk of which were settled in 2014. The results of the Pradaxa litigation combined with movement in Xarelto litigation could mean that Eliquis lawsuits are soon to follow.
    
    “There is no litigation at this time, but this is something to watch for,” Dr. Malik says. “Depending on how Xarelto goes, Eliquis could wind up with similar lawsuits. If the FDA ever mandates a blood test to measure the efficacy of Eliquis over warfarin, then the benefits will disappear because the patient will require regular blood monitoring. Patients will have all the side effects of Eliquis, with no benefit and the only real benefit - lack of blood tests - will be gone.”

    Link: http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/eliquis/interview-eliquis-lawsuit-side-effects-20536.html#.VRVZcfnF9R0

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11. Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over Xarelto Internal Bleeding

    Mar 24, 2015 | About Lawsuits

    By Irvin Jackson

    Bayer Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary continue to face a growing number of lawsuits that allege side effects of Xarelto caused severe and uncontrollable internal bleeding, with one of the latest being brought by the son of a Tennessee man who bled to death following use of the controversial anticoagulant.

    The complaint (PDF) was filed by Danny Julien in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 20, following the death of his father, Tommy Julien in early 2013.

    According to allegations raised in the wrongful death lawsuit, Tommy Julien was first prescribed Xarelto to prevent strokes linked to atrial fibrillation in November 2012. Only a few months later, Julien began suffering internal bleeding on Xarelto, which his son indicates resulted in significant injuries and eventually led to his death.

    The case joins over 300 similar Xarelto internal bleeding lawsuits currently pending in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where complaints filed throughout the federal court system have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of a multidistrict litigation, or MDL.

    U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is presiding over coordinated pretrial proceedings in the cases, since each of the lawsuits raises similar allegations that Bayer and Janssen withheld important warnings and safety information about the risk of internal bleeding on Xarelto, as well as the lack of an approved reversal agent that doctors could have used to control bleeding problems that may develop.

    Internal Bleeding Problems on Xarelto

    Xarelto (rivaroxoaban) is a new-generation anticoagulant introduced in 2011 as a superior replacement for Coumadin (warfarin), which has been the “go-to” medication for prevention of blood clots and strokes among patients with atrial fibrillation for decades.

    While all blood thinners carry a risk of bleeding injury, Xarelto has been linked to a surprising number of problems as more and more patients are switched to the novel anticoagulant.

    Xarelto has been promoted as superior to warfarin, with the drug makers indicating that it is easier to use, since it does not require regular blood monitoring. However, several recent studies have raised questions about those claims, with researchers suggesting that Xarelto blood monitoring may actually help doctors identify patients at the greatest risk of bleeding.

    In addition to failing to warn about the risk of bleeding and importance of blood monitoring, plaintiffs claim that drug makers withheld information about the lack of a Xarelto antidote to stop hemorrhaging or internal bleeding.

    While warfarin’s blooding thinning effects can be quickly reversed in an emergency, there is no antidote for Xarelto currently available. This has left many doctors unable to control bleeds, increasing the risk of severe injury or death.

    Xarelto Litigation

    With a growing number of Xarelto injury and wrongful death lawsuits being filed in U.S. District Courts throughout the country, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established coordinated proceedings for the federal courts in December 2014, transferring cases filed nationwide to Judge Fallon to reduce the risk of duplicative discovery into common issues, avoid conflicting pretrial rulings and serve the convenience of the parties, witnesses and the courts.

    As part of the MDL process, it is expected that a small group of cases will be scheduled for early trial dates to help the parties gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that is likely to be repeated throughout the U.S. litigation.

    While the outcomes of these “bellwether” trials will not be binding on the claim brought by Julien and other claimants, they may influence eventual Xarelto settlements that would avoid the need for hundreds of cases to go before juries nationwide.

    Julien claims his father would have never used Xarelto had he known it carried a risk of potentially deadly bleeding events with no antidote to stop the drug’s blood thinning effects.

    The lawsuit accuses the manufacturers of failure to warn, designing a defective drug, negligence, negligent design, negligent misrepresentation, breach of warranty, fraud, and violation of consumer protection laws, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

    Link: http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/wrongful-death-lawsuit-xarelto-internal-bleeding-79857/#sthash.1Lm9TdE6.dpuf
    

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12. Gastrointestinal Bleeding Lawsuit Filed Over Xarelto

    Mar 23, 2015 | Top Class Actions

    By Ashley Vanover

    A Xarelto bleeding lawsuit was filed against drug manufacturers Bayer Healthcare and Janssen Pharmaceuticals alleging they failed to provide adequate warnings about the safety risks associated with the use of the popular blood thinner.

    A Texas resident alleges the companies failed to warn patients and provide information to physicians related to the increased risks of internal bleeding events associated with taking Xarelto. According to the Xarelto lawsuit, plaintiff Rita O. used Xarelto beginning in March 2012 to treat deep vein thrombosis.

    She subsequently experienced a gastrointestinal bleed, for which she was hospitalized in March 2013, as well as other life-threatening severe and personal injuries that were allegedly due to Bayer and Janssen’s failure to include a “Boxed Warning” about Xarelto bleeding.

    Rita claims the drug should not be sold and that Bayer and Janssen negligently promoted Xarelto as safe when they allegedly knew the blood thinner could cause life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. Rita is also seeking for her Xarelto lawsuit to be included in the multidistrict litigation currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana [In re: Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2592, Case No. 14-md-2592].

    Xarelto Bleeding Events

    Xarelto (rivaroxaban) was first approved by the FDA in July of 2011 as a prescription medicine with three primary uses: to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery.

    Xarelto belongs to a class of anticoagulants called direct factor Xa inhibitors. Sometimes referred to as blood thinners, anticoagulants interfere with the normal clotting of the blood.

    Clotting is essential if a person is to stop bleeding from an open wound, but some people experience clotting when they are not injured. Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood to pool in the heart and may lead to clots.

    If these travel to the brain, they may cause a stroke. Blood clots that develop in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs) can cause serious complications and/or death if left untreated.

    When people experience side effects they suspect were caused by a prescription or over-the-counter medicine, they or their doctors may report the events to the FDA. These events are recorded in the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (AERS).

    Of the more than 1,800 adverse events linked to Xarelto, the most common events were pulmonary embolism (386 reports), deep vein thrombosis (279 reports), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (107 reports) and hemorrhage (107 reports). Hospitalization was reported in 891 of these events; and 183 of the patients lost their lives.

    Xarelto Injury Lawsuits

    The Xarelto injury lawsuit is seeking compensatory, economic, and punitive damages for the drug companies’ alleged fraudulent and reckless disregard for the safety and welfare of Xarelto users like Rita.

    Link: http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/52057-gastrointestinal-bleeding-lawsuit-filed-over-xarelto/ 

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13. Status Conference Scheduled for XARELTO Lawsuit Attorneys

    Mar 23, 2015 | American Injury Attorney Group

    By Anthony Johnson

    The judge overseeing the federal Xarelto litigation will meet to discuss the process of moving the litigation forward at a status conference. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered consolidated pretrial proceedings in December 2014 for all Xarelto lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary and Bayer, bringing the cases before a U.S. district judge in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

    If you took Xarelto and suffered severe complications, including uncontrollable bleeding, call the American Injury Attorney Group for a free consultation. We can answer your questions, and if you have a case, we can connect you with an affiliated Xarelto lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.

    Xarelto Claims to Be Discussed

    Drug makers are facing at least 220 product liabilitylawsuits in federal multidistrict litigation involving claims of life-threatening, and potentially fatal, bleeding complications and injuries caused by side effects of the blood-thinner, Xarelto. Plaintiffs argue the companies failed both to adequately warn of the risks of the drug and to release an antidote to reverse its anti-clotting effects.

    According to an agenda for the status conference, the parties are expected to discuss several pretrial issues with the U.S. district judge, including a possible tolling agreement (an agreement typically used to allow parties additional time to evaluate their claims’ legitimacy and/or amount of damages before the statute of limitations runs), and the drafting of a master complaint. The parties will also discuss the most efficient way to coordinate the pending federal Xarelto claims with state cases that are also currently pending across the U.S.

    It is also expected that a small number of lawsuits will be chosen as bellwether cases as part of the coordinated pretrial proceedings. These lawsuits will be prepared for early trial dates to help the defendants and plaintiffs gauge how juries might respond to testimony and evidence likely to be presented throughout the litigation.

    Link: https://attorney-group.com/blog/xarelto-claims/

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14. Connecticut Xarelto Lawsuits Filed After Patients Allegedly Experience Uncontrollable Internal Bleeding

    Mar 23, 2015 | Bernstein Liebhard LLP

    Over the past two months, at least four Xarelto lawsuits have been filed in Connecticut on behalf of patients who allegedly experienced uncontrollable internal bleeding following use of the new-generation anticoagulant. According to court documents, all of the complaints have since been transferred to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, where hundreds of similar Xarelto bleeding claims have been consolidated for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

    All of the Connecticut lawsuits name Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceutical as defendants, and allege that Xarelto can cause “bleeding that cannot be stopped because there’s no antidote.” The companies are accused of misleading patients and doctors by marketing the blood thinner as a superior alternative to warfarin, and promising that the new medication would not require monitoring of blood plasma levels. However, plaintiffs assert that Xarelto users might actually benefit from regular monitoring, and point out that warfarin bleeding can be stopped via the administration of vitamin K.Federal, State Xarelto Litigations

    Xarelto was first approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011. According to the lawsuits filed in Connecticut and elsewhere, by the end of 2012, the FDA had received reports of some 2,080 Xarelto-related injuries, including 151 deaths.

    Just over 300 Xarelto lawsuits are now pending in the multidistrict litigation underway in Louisiana. The proceeding was only created in December 2014, and is still in its early stages. However, Xarelto lawyers around the country are reportedly hearing from numerous people who were allegedly harmed by the drug, and some have speculated that many more such claims will be filed. The multidistrict litigation was created in anticipation of a large number of filings, and will allow federal Xarelto lawsuits to proceed more efficiently through the court system.

    In addition to the federal multidistrict litigation, a mass tort proceeding has been established in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for all Xarelto bleeding cases filed in Pennsylvania’s state courts. So far, just over 150 cases are pending in the proceeding.Learn More about Filing a Xarelto Case

    Bernstein Liebhard LLP is representing a number of clients in Xarelto lawsuits, and our legal staff continues to offer free, no-obligation consultations to individuals who may have been harmed by this medication. To learn more, please contact one of our Xarelto lawyers by calling (888) 979-1182.

    Link: http://www.thexareltolawsuit.com/connecticut-xarelto-lawsuits-filed-after-patients-allegedly-experience-uncontrollable-internal-bleeding/ 

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15. Xarelto Lawyer Shares New Update on Xarelto Lawsuits

    Mar 23, 2015 | Van Wey Law PLLC

    Approximately 75 Xarelto lawsuits have been consolidated and transferred to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. All of the cases allege that Xarelto caused uncontrollable, and sometimes fatal, bleeding. The lawsuits allege that the manufacturers conducted massive direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns which failed to disclose to patients that there is no means to reverse the anticoagulant effects of the drug.

    Prior Litigation Proceedings

    Prior to this, in December 2014, another large group of Xarelto cases filed through the federal court system was consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) and assigned to U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

    Xarelto (rivaroxoaban) is a newer anticoagulant (blood thinner) that was approved by the FDA in 2011 as a replacement for Coumadin (warfarin). For the past 60 years, Coumadin has been the blood thinner given to patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation.

    Drug Makers Failed to Disclose Risks

    Though all blood thinners carry a risk of internal hemorrhaging, Xarelto has been linked to severe injuries that are on the rise as the number of patients switching over to it increases. It has been heavily marketed as a “safer” alternative to Coumadin and a more convenient drug that is easier to use, since it doesn’t require regular blood tests to measure its effectiveness.

    Plaintiffs contend that the drug makers withheld critical information about the absence of a reversal antidote that can be used to stop uncontrollable internal bleeding when it occurs. Coumadin has an antidote that can quickly reverse internal bleeding events, whereas Xarelto does not.

    Court documents state that Xarelto raked in approximately $2 billion in sales nationwide, with over one million prescriptions written by 2013. Clearly, Johnson & Johnson are focused on profits rather than patient safety.

    Now Accepting Cases

    For this reason, attorneys at Van Wey Law are currently accepting cases for those who have been seriously injured or hospitalized while taking Xarelto. We are also fighting for family members who have had the unfortunate outcome of losing a loved one who suffered a fatal bleeding event while taking this dangerous drug.

    Link: http://www.vanweylaw.com/blog/xarelto-lawyer-shares-latest-xarelto-lawsuit-news.cfm

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16. Latest Xarelto News

    Mar 23, 2015 | The Legal Examiner

    By Craig Kelley

    The anticoagulant drug, Xarelto, has been the subject of warnings on this site on more than one occasion due to its dangerous bleeding complications with no proven antidote to date. Now reports are coming in pointing to misconduct and discrepancies carried out by Xarelto’s makers to bring even more insult to injuries. There are new reports suggesting that in clinical trials the drug’s safety was falsified and evidence of danger was destroyed. In fact it has been reported that one of the reports for Xarelto trials by Bayer Pharmaceuticals was carried out with such disregard for safety and protocol the Federal Drug Administration had to reject the drug’s approval. Presumably, the researchers in the particular study on Xarelto flat out falsified their data and destroyed medical records in an ugly cover-up. Xarelto’s makers seemed to care more about getting their drug out on the market than providing consumers with a safe anticoagulant. It seems they believe it is perfectly fine to endanger consumers everywhere in their self-serving cause of making money.

    If you or someone you know is taking Xarelto it is highly recommended that a medical professional be consulted and the significant dangers of the drug be weighed. Do not hesitate to contact our caring professionals at Inserra & Kelley regarding the dangers of Xarelto as you may be entitled to compensation due to injury from a potentially fatal drug hoisted onto an unsuspecting public.

    Link: http://councilbluffs.legalexaminer.com/fda-prescription-drugs/latest-xarelto-news/
    

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17. Xarelto Bleeding Attorney Provides Litigation Update

    Mar 21, 2015 | The Legal Examiner

    By Shezad Malik MD JD

    Last year, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) granted consolidated pretrial proceedings for all federal Xarelto cases filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen subsidiary over the new-generation blood thinner or anticoagulant.

    Xarelto is one of the newer oral anticoagulant medications that has been approved by the FDA. The Xarelto personal injury and product liability claims are centralized before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

    Xarelto Personal Injury Bleeding and Death Cases Over 300

    Bayer and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) as co-developers, are exposed to at least 315 bleeding cases in the federal multi-district litigation (MDL), according to a Docket Report issued by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on March 16, 2015, with thousands more on the way.

    According to experts, the total tally may exceed several thousands before the litigation is settled. The plaintiffs blame the manufacturers for the severe, and often fatal bleeding injuries that were caused by Xarelto side effects.

    Xarelto Lack of Adequate Warnings

    Plaintiffs allege that the drug makers neglected to adequately warn about the risks associated with the new-generation anticoagulant and the lack of an effective antidote for Xarelto, in the event of uncontrollable bleeding.

    Xarelto Uncontrollable Bleeding Risks

    Xarelto (rivaroxoaban) is a new-generation anticoagulant approved by the FDA in 2011 as a replacement for Coumadin (warfarin). Coumadin, has been the “gold standard” medication for prevention of blood clots and strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm abnormality for the past 60 years.

    All blood thinners carry a risk of bleeding, BUT Xarelto has been linked to a severe injuries as more patients are transferred over to the new blood thinner.

    Xarelto has been touted as a safer alternative to Coumadin, with the drug makers promoting that it is easier to use, since it does not require regular blood tests to measure its effectiveness.

    According to several recent studies there are concerns about those claims, with researchers noting that Xarelto blood tests may help doctors identify patients at the greatest risk of bleeding. Additionally, plaintiffs blame the drug makers for withholding critical information about the lack of a Xarelto reversal agent, which doctors could use to stop uncontrollable hemorrhaging.

    Coumadin’s blood thinning effects can be quickly reversed in an emergency, there is no similar antidote for Xarelto.

    Xarelto is a $Billion Dollar Blockbuster Drug

    According to court documents, Xarelto has raked in over $2 billion in sales nationwide with over one million prescriptions written by 2013, two years after the drug’s introduction into the market. Xarelto is a huge cash cow for the pharma division at J&J.

    Xarelto, has grabbed a 32 percent market share in the highly competitive anticoagulant market, significantly ahead of Boehringer’s Pradaxa and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Eliquis, the other two new anticoagulants in the market. The Xarelto pony is way ahead in the three way pony race.

    Company sales representatives continued to tout Xarelto as a convenient alternative to the established blood-thinner warfarin, but by the end of 2012, there had been 2,080 Xarelto-related injuries, including 151 deaths.

    Xarelto Federal MDL Lawsuits

    The MDL has an important role in streamlining the litigation process, as all plaintiffs and defendants are under one roof, coordinate discovery and the bellwether trials can be set to determine the strength of the claims.

    As part of the coordinated pretrial proceedings, it is common in complex pharmaceutical and medical device mass tort litigation, that a small group of cases will be selected as “bellwether” cases.

    These lawsuits will be prepared for early trial dates to help the parties determine how juries may respond to certain evidence and similar testimony that is likely to be repeated throughout the litigation.

    If the parties fail to negotiate a settlement or resolve the litigation following pretrial proceedings, Judge Fallon may remand cases back to the U.S. Districts where they were originally filed for separate trial dates in the future.

    Link: http://fortworth.legalexaminer.com/defective-dangerous-products/xarelto-bleeding-attorney-provides-litigation-update/ 

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18. Xarelto Lawsuits are Underway in Multi-district Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

    Mar 20, 2015 | Kreisman Law Office

    By Robert Kreisman

    More than 25 lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Corporation, in consolidated cases in the Louisiana federal district court regarding the serious side effects of the blood-thinning drug, Xarelto.

    Xarelto has been associated with serious side effects, including internal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, brain bleeds and death.

    It has been reported that thousands of individuals — patients who have been prescribed Xarelto as a blood-thinner  — have been affected. The presiding federal judge is Judge Eldon E. Fallon.

    In many ways, Xarelto was introduced as a novel oral anticoagulant or blood-thinner that was approved by the U.S. Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for reducing the risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, treating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Xarelto was prescribed to reduce the recurrence of these blood clotting conditions and has been prescribed for patients who have received hip and knee replacements.

    Another blood thinning drug, Pradaxa, was manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, which produced the blood-thinning drug. A $650 million settlement was reached to resolve the hundreds of patients who were injured by the side effects of Pradaxa. There were more than 500 deaths because of excessive bleeding associated with Pradaxa.

    As a side note, Judge Fallon was the presiding judge in the mass torts litigation against Merck & Co., which involved the pain- killing pharmaceutical, Vioxx. The Vioxx cases against Merck were settled in 2007 in the amount of $4.85 billion. There were thousands of cases brought by individual patients who were injured by the taking of Vioxx in the years prior. If you have been injured by taking Xarelto, please contact us for a free and immediate consultation.

    Kreisman Law Offices has been handling Xarelto cases, Pradaxa cases and other pharmaceutical defect cases for individual patients and their families who may have been harmed, injured or died as a result of taking defective and dangerous pharmaceuticals for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Batavia, Berwyn, Chicago (Chinatown, Bucktown, Beverly, Back of the Yards, Avondale, Austin, Jefferson Park, Prairie District, Printer’s Row, Pulaski Park, Roscoe Village, Sauganash, Sheffield, Wrigleyville, West Town), Brookfield, Riverside, Cicero, Melrose Park, Franklin Park, Bensenville, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows and Buffalo Grove, Ill.

    Link: http://www.chicagomedicalmalpracticeattorney-blog.com/2015/03/xarelto-lawsuits-are-underway-in-multi-district-litigation-in-the-u-s-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-louisiana.html

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