Preview Newsletter
Xarelto Media Monitoring Week of 5/15/2015
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Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit Judge Orders the Selection of Cases for Discovery, Reports Xarelto Lawsuit Funding Firm, Fair Rate Funding
May 11, 2015 | PRNewswire
By Fair Rate Funding
Fair Rate Funding, a leader in Xarelto lawsuit funding nationwide, reports that a number of Xarelto bleeding lawsuits are to be selected for case-specific discovery by Order of the US District Court. In an Order, dated May 4th, 2015, Judge Fallon, of the Eastern District of Louisiana, directed 40 to 60 cases be designated for specific discovery. Judge Fallon's Order also sets forth deadlines for other discovery matters and can be found here. -
Court Overseeing Federal Xarelto Lawsuits Addresses Bellwether Trial Selection in New Case Management Order
May 13, 2015 | PRWEB
By Bernstein Leibhard LLP
The court overseeing hundreds of federal Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) has issued a new Case Management Order that addresses, among other things, the selection of cases for future bellwether trials. -
Xarelto Lawsuit News: Bellweather Trial Dates Forthcoming
May 13, 2015 | PRWEB
By Onder Law Firm
Attorneys handling Xarelto lawsuits for clients nationwide say bellweather trials for the case are now being discussed in the Xarelto litigation underway in U.S. District Court in Louisiana.* According to court documents, the scheduling of these important precedent-setting cases is dependent on decisions made regarding the discovery process: “The parties are discussing the scope of discovery, especially the length and breadth of document production, which will influence the setting of the date of the first bellweather trial,” reads Case Management Order 1, which was filed on May 4, 2015. -
The Dangers of Xarelto
May 7, 2015 | McGarvey Anderson PLLC
By Staff
Xarelto is a prescription blood thinner used to help patients who may be at risk of blood clots. For instance, someone who has just undergone hip surgery may be at risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), so a doctor would prescribe Xarelto in an effort to prevent a clot. This is important because if a blood clot travels to the brain, it can be fatal. This drug can also lower the risk of stroke in certain patients. -
Xarelto Bleeding Cases to be Selected for Discovery, Early Trial Dates
May 7, 2015 | AboutLawsuits.com
By Austin Kirk
As a growing number of Xarelto bleeding lawsuits continue to be filed by individuals nationwide, the U.S. District Judge presiding over the federal litigation has ordered the parties to identify between 40 and 60 plaintiffs to go through case-specific discovery and possible early test trials. -
Xarelto Lawsuit Says Drug Caused Severe Vaginal Bleeding
May 8, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Meredith Friesen
The Xarelto Bleeding Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) has gained another plaintiff. An Ohio resident joined the MDL after suffering from dangerous internal bleeding allegedly caused by the drug. -
Xarelto Bleeding Death Leads to New Lawsuit Against Drug Makers
May 11, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Paul Tassin
An Arkansas woman has filed a Xarelto lawsuit against the makers of Xarelto on behalf of her mother’s estate, claiming compensation for Xarelto side effects her mother suffered while she was still alive. -
Xarelto, GranuFlo And NaturaLyte Lawsuit Filings Increase In April
May 12, 2015 | Righting Injustice
By Jennifer Walker-Journey
The largest increases in product liability filings involving pharmaceuticals last month were seen in claims against Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ blood thinner Xarelto, and Fresenius Medical Care’s dialysis concentrates GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, according to Reuters’ analysis of statistics from the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. -
More Xarelto Lawsuits Filed As Trials Move Forward
May 13, 2015 | Lawyers and Settlements
By Heidi Turner
A new Xarelto lawsuit has been filed alleging Xarelto bleeding complications put patients at risk of serious health problems. In the past month, in fact, almost 100 lawsuits have been added to Xarelto multidistrict litigation, which consolidates Xarelto side effects lawsuits for pre-trial proceedings. -
Xarelto Bleeding Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit
May 13, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Paul Tassin
A Kansas widow filed a Xarelto bleeding lawsuit, claiming Xarelto caused her husband’s death. -
Xarelto Lawsuit Alleges “Severe and Permanent Injuries”
May 13, 2015 | Drug Reporter
By Whitney Taylor
A plaintiff that filed a Xarelto lawsuit in Georgia alleges use of the drug led to life-threatening bleeding, permanent injury and loss of enjoyment of life. The plaintiff further states that Xarelto manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, as well as Janssen’s mother company Bayer, failed to provide proper warning about the risks associated with their product, despite studies that indicated such a risk existed. -
Xarelto Lawsuit Filed in Georgia District Court
May 14, 2015 | Injury Lawyer News
By Stephanie Reid
On March 19, 2015, one of the most recent victims of the alleged dangerous drug known as Xarelto (rivaroxaban) filed a personal injury lawsuit in United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Gainesville division). -
Xarelto Plaintiffs to be Identified for Early Trial Settings
May 14, 2015 | American Injury Attorney Group
By Staff
More than 400 Xarelto lawsuits are currently pending against Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Healthcare, alleging that the companies failed to disclose risks of severe side effects of Xarelto, including internal bleeding. Parties have been ordered by the U.S. District Judge presiding over federal Xarelto litigation to identify 40 to 60 plaintiffs to go through case-specific discovery and early trial settings. -
Judge Schedules Science Day in Xarelto Litigation
May 14, 2015 | Legal Examiner - New York
By Roopal Luhana
In December 2014, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated all federal Xarelto lawsuits into one court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Eldon E. Fallon was appointed to oversee the proceedings. -
Xarelto Linked to Uncontrolled Bleeding
May 15, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Laura Schultz
A new Xarelto lawsuit was filed in federal court, alleging that the drug company Janssen Research and Development manufactured a defective and dangerous drug that caused the patient to suffer adverse side effects. This Xarelto lawsuit is a part of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the drug manufacturer. -
New Generation Anticoagulants: Profits Over Patients?
May 15, 2015 | Legal Examiner - Illinois
By Steven Davis
When a new medication hits the market, is the emphasis on how many people will it help, or how much money will it make? -
Xarelto Poses Serious Risk of GI Bleeding
May 15, 2015 | Lowe Law Group
By Staff
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health working with George Washington University recently published an article that revealed Xarelto may present double warfarin’s risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeds. -
Keep Celebrating Bayer … Xarelto is Just Starting
May 15, 2015 | Ring of Fire Blog
By Justin Lane
The Xarelto Internet home page trumpets “#1 Prescribed Blood Thinner in Its Class!” This news is accompanied by three popular celebrities: Saturday Night Live alumnus Kevin Nealon, retired golf legend Arnold Palmer, and NASCAR driver Brian Vickers (proudly displaying the name of his corporate sponsor on the front of his jacket – something that members of CONgress should be doing as well).
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Plaintiff Attorney Press Releases
Plaintiff Attorney Blogs
Full Text of Stories Below
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May 11, 2015 | PRNewswire
By Fair Rate Funding
Fair Rate Funding, a leader in Xarelto lawsuit funding nationwide, reports that a number of Xarelto bleeding lawsuits are to be selected for case-specific discovery by Order of the US District Court. In an Order, dated May 4th, 2015, Judge Fallon, of the Eastern District of Louisiana, directed 40 to 60 cases be designated for specific discovery. Judge Fallon's Order also sets forth deadlines for other discovery matters and can be found here.
Xarelto (RIVAROXABAN) is a drug manufactured and marketed by Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The product is a "blood thinner" (anticoagulant) commonly prescribed to treat such conditions as atrial fibrillation and deep vein thrombosis in surgical patients.
Bayer and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. currently face Xarelto lawsuits alleging the drug is dangerous and defective. Plaintiffs assert that vitamin K can reverse the blood thinning effects of traditional anticoagulants such as warfarin or Coumadin. Because there is no such antidote available for Xarelto, lawyers claim that in an emergency, there is no means to stop bleeding once it starts. Xarelto lawyers allege serious injuries and even death from use of the drug.
Currently, there are over 400 lawsuits filed against Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. All of these cases involve similar allegations that the drug makers failed to adequately warn about the potential side effects of Xarelto.
Because of the large number of plaintiffs, the Xarelto bleeding lawsuits are designated as a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) and consolidated before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana. MDL's are designed to reduce administrative strains on the litigants, avoid duplicative discovery on common issues affecting many cases, and avoid conflicting pretrial rulings by different judges.
"We are glad to see the litigation progress through the system," commented Paul M. Coppola, President of Xarelto lawsuit funding firm, Fair Rate Funding. "Since learning of the problems caused by Xarelto, we have put systems in place to help these victims.
Lawsuit funding is an advance on the future proceeds of a lawsuit. Xarelto lawsuit funding works with plaintiffs involved in the Xarelto lawsuit to pay for ordinary living expenses or whatever financial matters arise. In fact, there are absolutely no restrictions on the money advanced and no upfront costs to apply.
For more information on how Fair Rate Funding helps plaintiffs in the Xarelto lawsuit with Xarelto lawsuit funding, visit http://professionalsettlementfunding.com/pharmaceutical-drug-cases/.
By offering cash now to help pay for any type of expense such as car loans, rent and mortgage payments, utility payments, personal loans, and daily living expenses, Fair Rate Funding eases the financial stress some of these plaintiffs endure. There are no restrictions on the use of the funds.
Fair Rate Funding specializes in advancing cash now for plaintiffs who are involved in personal injury lawsuits including Xarelto bleeding lawsuits. Sometimes referred to as settlement loans or lawsuit loans, settlement funding is NOT a loan transaction but a purchase of a portion of a future recovery. If the lawsuit is unsuccessful for any reason and no money is recovered, the lawsuit funding is not repaid. For answers to frequently asked Xarelto lawsuit funding questions, visit: http://www.fairratefunding.com/lawsuit-cash-advance.html
Fair Rate Funding stands ready to assist Xarelto bleeding lawsuit victims with Xarelto bleeding lawsuit funding, if they already retained an attorney. To learn more about obtaining Xarelto bleeding lawsuit funding on your Xarelto bleeding lawsuit in general, visit: http://professionalsettlementfunding.com/xarelto-lawsuit-funding/.
Fair Rate Funding works diligently to afford lawsuit funding to its applicants and has representatives standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions regarding the lawsuit funding process.
Fair Rate Funding's representatives are working around the clock to make sure each and every client gets the attention they need and to see them through to obtaining a cash advance. Fair Rate Funding is able to offer the lowest rates in the industry and makes the process as seamless as possible.
Fair Rate Funding lawsuit settlement funding programs are not a lawsuit loan or lawsuit loans although they are often referred to as such. A pre-settlement lawsuit cash advance is not a settlement loan or settlement loans because the advance is only repaid if the case is successful. Your attorney will repay your case funding or lawsuit advance ONLY if your case is won or settled.
Fair Rate Funding prides itself on providing the quickest approvals – as soon as 24 hours on most cases, the lowest monthly usage rates – as low as 2.5% per month, and the most attentive customer service in the lawsuit funding industry.
Fair Rate Funding also offers free case evaluations. If you are, at any time, not interested in pursuing lawsuit funding, there are no costs to you and absolutely no obligations.
For more information about lawsuit funding and other services from Fair Rate Funding, simply call a representatives at 888-964-2224 or visit us at http://fairratefunding.com.
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May 13, 2015 | PRWEB
By Bernstein Leibhard LLP
The court overseeing hundreds of federal Xarelto lawsuits (http://www.xareltolawsuit2015.com/) has issued a new Case Management Order that addresses, among other things, the selection of cases for future bellwether trials. The Order, which was issued on May 4th in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, directs the parties to meet and confer before June 15th to established procedures for the selection of 40 to 60 cases for specific discovery, as well as the selection of bellwether trial candidates from that initial discovery pool. A proposed Case Management Order detailing these procedures is to be submitted to the Court by June 30, 2015. (In Re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, No. 2592)
Our Firm is representing a number of federal Xarelto lawsuit plaintiffs, and we are pleased that the multidistrict litigation is preparing for bellwether trials. These trials may provide important insight into how juries will decide other Xarelto lawsuits that put forth similar allegations of fact, 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, and continues to evaluate claims 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 Litigations
Xarelto is a new-generation anticoagulant that was initially approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2011, and 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. A black box warning on the Xarelto label includes information about the increased risk of blood clot formation after premature discontinuation of the medication in the absence of adequate alternative anticoagulation.*Court documents indicate that more than 400 Xarelto lawsuits have been filed in the multidistrict litigation underway in Louisiana, all of which allege that the drugs manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings regarding its association with serious side effects, including internal bleeding, strokes, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. More than 200 similar complaints have been filed in a mass tort program underway in Pennsylvanias Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. (In Re: Xarelto Litigation, Case ID 150102349)
According to court records, the plaintiffs named in these cases all allege that Xarelto was misleadingly marketed as a superior alternative to warfarin, and point out that hemorrhaging caused by this older blood thinner can be stopped via the administration of vitamin K . The complaints note that there currently exists no approved antidote to reverse Xarelto bleeding.
Individuals who allegedly experienced internal bleeding and other complications due to Xarelto may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other damages related to their injuries. Learn more about filng a Xarelto lawsuit by visiting Bernstein Liebhard LLPs website, or by calling 800-511-5092 to schedule a free, no obligation case review.
*accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/022406s004lbl.pdf, FDA, March 2013
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Xarelto Lawsuit News: Bellweather Trial Dates Forthcoming
May 13, 2015 | PRWEB
By Onder Law Firm
Attorneys handling Xarelto lawsuits for clients nationwide say bellweather trials for the case are now being discussed in the Xarelto litigation underway in U.S. District Court in Louisiana.* According to court documents, the scheduling of these important precedent-setting cases is dependent on decisions made regarding the discovery process: “The parties are discussing the scope of discovery, especially the length and breadth of document production, which will influence the setting of the date of the first bellweather trial,” reads Case Management Order 1, which was filed on May 4, 2015.
Xarelto lawsuits have been filed by and behalf of persons throughout the United States who suffered severe internal bleeding they allege is linked to the drug Xarelto, according to court documents. The anti-coagulant thins the blood in order to prevent strokes and cardiac events, but has no known antidote to stop bleeding once it begins, according to court documents. More than 400 cases have already been consolidated in U.S. District Court in Louisiana, making common allegations, according to court documents. The Xarelto lawsuits allege that the drug makers Bayer and Johnson & Johnson did not adequately warn consumers of serious health risks associated with the drug. Furthermore, plaintiffs claim Xarelto was promoted as superior to warfarin, which they assert is false, according to court documents.
In the most recent Xarelto lawsuit news, court documents reveal that approximately 40-60 plaintiffs will be identified for in-depth examination during discovery; then, from this pool, bellweather cases will be chosen. The selection of these cases for discovery will be proposed in Case Management Order 2, which is expected to be filed by the end of June, 2015, according to the first case management order.
“The selection of cases for discovery is an important first step toward establishing bellweather trials, signaling that the case is moving forward expediently. Bellweather trials are extremely important; the outcome of these cases set the precedent for how all the other Xarelto lawsuits in this multidistrict litigation will be resolved. Making sure that the initial cases selected for discovery are representative of the scope of the allegations within the 402 cases currently pending is vital,” explained Jim Onder, an experienced pharmaceutical safety litigator representing the Onder Law Firm.
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.
About The Onder Law Firm
Onder, Shelton, OLeary & Peterson, LLC is a St. Louis based personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. Onder, Shelton, O’Leary & Peterson has represented clients throughout the United States, and other firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation. It is a recognized leader in products liability cases such as window blind cord strangulation and pharmaceutical litigation. The Onder Law Firm’sXarelto attorneys provide information to the public at http://www.xareltocontingencylawsuit.com. -
May 7, 2015 | McGarvey Anderson PLLC
By Staff
Xarelto is a prescription blood thinner used to help patients who may be at risk of blood clots. For instance, someone who has just undergone hip surgery may be at risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), so a doctor would prescribe Xarelto in an effort to prevent a clot. This is important because if a blood clot travels to the brain, it can be fatal. This drug can also lower the risk of stroke in certain patients.
The problem is that many patients have reported uncontrolled internal bleeding as a result of using Xarelto. This is potentially fatal if not treated immediately. Since the drug manufacturer did not sufficiently warn these patients that internal bleeding could be side effect, many delayed treatment, leading to untimely deaths. Some other patients reported rectal bleeding while others have reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage.Some patients allege that the manufacturer of this drug, Bayer, knew of these risks and chose to conceal them. They also allege that not enough testing was done to learn of the potential dangers before releasing this drug to the general public.
This is a major problem, if true, because Xarelto sales have been increasingly yearly with more and more patients being prescribed this drug. Worldwide, in its first year of sales, Bayer made over $600 million on Xarelto and sales have continued to climb. This means that many people are at risk of excessive bleeding without being fully aware of the risks. But with such immense profits, the drug manufacturer has chosen to put profits over people in ensuring that this drug is safe for consumers.
The excessive bleeding allegedly associated with Xarelto is the same accusation found in a similar drug Pradaxa. That drug, released a year before Xarelto, has been subjected to numerous lawsuits alleging excessive bleedings. Thousands of people have filed claims for damages and more than $650 million was paid to settle these claims.
If you are taking Xarelto and are worried about the side effects, contact your doctor but do not stop taking the drug without their advice. Suddenly stopping can actually increase the risks of a fatal blood clot or stroke, so only stop under a doctor’s close guidance or care. If you are taking Xarelto and suddenly find you are in unexplained pain or discomfort, blood in the urine, or black, tarry stool, see a doctor immediately as they may be signs of internal bleeding. Similarly, be on the lookout for signs of a stroke which are weakening of the face, trouble with speech, dizziness or blurred vision. See a doctor immediately if these signs are present as time is of the essence with a stroke.
If you or a loved one has suffered damages as a result of Xarelto usage, the attorneys McGarvey Anderson can help. Drug manufacturers unfortunately fast track drugs or lobby the FDA for approval before drugs have been fully tested or vetted. Because the profit for getting to market is so immense, these manufacturers sometimes put patients at risk just to line their own pockets. If you have suffered damages due to Xarelto or any bad drugs, contact McGarvey Anderson right away.
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Xarelto Bleeding Cases to be Selected for Discovery, Early Trial Dates
May 7, 2015 | AboutLawsuits.com
By Austin Kirk
As a growing number of Xarelto bleeding lawsuits continue to be filed by individuals nationwide, the U.S. District Judge presiding over the federal litigation has ordered the parties to identify between 40 and 60 plaintiffs to go through case-specific discovery and possible early test trials.
There are currently more than 400 product liability lawsuits filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit in the federal court system, which all involve similar allegations that the drug makers failed to adequately warn about the potential side effects of Xarelto, which have been linked to cases of uncontrollable bleeding and death.
Since December 2014, the federal Xarelto bleeding cases have been centralized for discovery and pretrial proceedings before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana, as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). The consolidated proceedings are designed to reduce duplicative discovery into common issues that impact many cases, avoid conflicting pretrial rulings from different judges, and to serve the convenience of the witnesses, parties and courts.
In a case management order (PDF) issued May 4, Judge Fallon instructed both parties to meet and confer before June 15, to propose a process for identifying between 40 and 60 cases to be part of a “bellwether” pool. These cases will go through additional discovery specific to the circumstances surrounding the claim and be prepared for early trial dates designed to help gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that is likely to be repeated throughout the litigation.
Judge Fallon also issued a pre-trial order (PDF) on the same day, ordering that a Plaintiff Fact Sheet be submitted in each case within the next sixty days, including an authorization for the release of medical records, so that the drug makers will be provided with certain information about each case.
A separate order (PDF) requires that a Defendant Fact Sheet be completed for each Plaintiff Fact Sheet received, providing information on sales representatives and contact with physicians involved in the case, as well as other information.
Over the coming months, as Xarelto lawyers continue to review and file bleeding cases on behalf of individuals who have suffered an injury or wrongful death, it is ultimately expected that thousands of cases will be filed in the MDL.
To minimize expenses to all parties, Judge Fallon issued another pretrial order (PDF) this week, allowing up to 100 plaintiffs’ complaints to be bundled into a single filing for one filing fee.Xarelto Bleeding Risk
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 reversal agent, which doctors could use to stop hemorrhaging that may develop among users.
While warfarin’s blooding thinning effects can be quickly reversed in an emergency, there is no antidote for Xarelto.
Similar allegations were raised in the litigation over Pradaxa, which is another new-generation anticoagulant introduced by Boehringer Ingelheim in October 2010, one year before Xarelto hit the market. More than 4,000 Pradaxa lawsuits were filed by users of that drug who suffered bleeding injuries. Following several years of litigation, Boehringer Ingelheim ultimately agreed to pay $650 million in Pradaxa settlements, with an average of about $150,000 per claim.
If the parties fail to reach settlements for the Xarelto bleeding cases following the bellwether trial process, it is possible Judge Fallon may begin remanding hundreds of individual cases back to the U.S. District Courts where they would have originally been filed for separate trial dates.
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Xarelto Lawsuit Says Drug Caused Severe Vaginal Bleeding
May 8, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Meredith Friesen
The Xarelto Bleeding Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) has gained another plaintiff. An Ohio resident joined the MDL after suffering from dangerous internal bleeding allegedly caused by the drug.
After using Xarelto for about five months, the plaintiff claims she began to suffer from vaginal bleeding and blood loss anemia. The Xarelto lawsuit is one of many Xarelto bleeding complaints filed against the drug’s manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Plaintiff Melissa P. began to use Xarelto in January 2013. By May of 2013, she began to suffer from Xarelto bleeding side effects so severe that she required a blood transfusion in order to survive. Melissa’s lawsuit states that experienced serious and dangerous side effects including life-threatening bleeding and other severe, permanent personal injuries.
The Xarelot lawsuit says Melissa suffered physical pain and mental anguish, diminished enjoyment of life, and financial expenses for hospitalization and medical care.
Due to the nature and severity of her injuries, Melissa decided to take legal action against Janssen. She may win compensation for the injures caused by Janssen’s alleged neglect as well as the injures caused by the medication if her case is successful.
The FDA approved Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) in 2001 in order to treat systemic embolism, as well as to prevent blood clots in patients who have just undergone hip or knee replacement surgery. It is a Factor Xa inhibitor, one of a new generation of anticoagulants that have hit the market in recent years.
Xarelto was presented as an alternative to warfarin, the go-to anticoagulant that has been used for decades. Xarelto does not require blood monitoring and does not limit a patient’s diet like warfarin does.
Warfarin and other anticoagulants can cause bleeding side effects, but there are antidotes available to stop the bleeding. There is no antidote to stop Xarelto bleeding. The Xarelto MDL litigation asserts that the drug’s warning label did not include information about the lack of an antidote, and only mentioned that important fact in the overdosage section.
Over 1 million individuals have been prescribed Xarelto. Janssen has made a large profit from the drug’s sales while some consumers have suffered from severe side effects that Janssen allegedly failed to warn against.
According to lawsuits in the Xarelto bleeding MDL, “Defendants overstated the efficacy of Xarelto with respect to preventing stroke and systemic embolism, failed to adequately disclose to patients that there is no drug, agent, or means to reverse the anticoagulation effects of Xarelto, and that such irreversibility could have permanently disabling, life-threatening and fatal consequences.”
This Xarelto bleeding lawsuit brings counts of negligence, strict liability for defective product, breach of warranty, and fraudulent misrepresentation, among other counts, against Janssen.
This Xarelto Bleeding MDL is In Re: Xarelto (rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2592 filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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Xarelto Bleeding Death Leads to New Lawsuit Against Drug Makers
May 11, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Paul Tassin
An Arkansas woman has filed a Xarelto lawsuit against the makers of Xarelto on behalf of her mother’s estate, claiming compensation for Xarelto side effects her mother suffered while she was still alive.
Plaintiff Debbie W. brings this Xarelto lawsuit as administrator of the estate of her late mother Mary W. Mary began taking Xarelto in February 2013 as a treatment for atrial fibrillation.
While taking Xarelto, she had two episodes of internal bleeding and anemia, in April and June 2013. Both episodes required hospitalization and blood transfusions. Debbie now alleges these episodes of excessive bleeding led to “severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, suffering, and emotional distress,” all of which she attributes to Mary’s Xarelto treatment.
Debbie names as defendants Janssen Pharmaceuticals, its parent company Johnson & Johnson, and Bayer Corp., as well as their related companies, all of which were involved in manufacturing, distributing, or promoting Xarelto.
Xarelto is an oral anticoagulant used to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and prevent their recurrence, and to prevent deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery.
Xarelto is one of a new generation of anticoagulant medications that entered the market in September 2010, beginning then with Pradaxa. Xarelto itself was first approved by the FDA in July 2011.
The main selling point for Xarelto, as well as for the other new-generation anticoagulants, has been that it does not require continuous monitoring of blood levels with as-needed dosage adjustment, as is necessary with the older and more established anticoagulant warfarin.
However, Xarelto has a major drawback in its lack of an antidote, or reversal agent. While all anticoagulants create some risk of excessive bleeding, warfarin bleeding can be slowed by administering vitamin K.
There is no such reversal agent for Xarelto. Once Xarelto bleeding starts, it could continue until the body finishes metabolizing the drug and in some cases can be life-threatening. According to Debbie’s Xarelto lawsuit, neither the original label for Xarelto nor Janssen’s subsequent Xarelto marketing mentioned the lack of a reversal agent.
Initial clinical trials of Xarelto found it had some advantages over other medications but also caused decreased hemoglobin levels and need for a blood transfusion. Later trials found Xarelto comparable to warfarin except for the fact that gastrointestinal bleeding “occurred more frequently in the rivaroxaban [the generic name for Xarelto] group, as did bleeding that led to a drop in the hemoglobin level or bleeding that required transfusion.”
According to Debbie’s Xarelto lawsuit, both U.S. and German regulatory authorities have received thousands of reports of adverse events related to Xarelto, hundreds of which resulted in death.
Despite its drawbacks, Xarelto has been a considerable business success. Sales in fiscal 2013 reached about $2 billion. According to Debbie, Xarelto is now the leading anticoagulant medication in the world in terms of sales.
Debbie’s Xarelto lawsuit alleges Janssen and the other defendants failed to properly warn physicians and their patients about the risk of excessive Xarelto bleeding or the lack of a reversal agent. She raises claims for negligence, strict liability for a defective product, breach of warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment (the withholding of essential safety information), negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, and violation of Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
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Xarelto, GranuFlo And NaturaLyte Lawsuit Filings Increase In April
May 12, 2015 | Righting Injustice
By Jennifer Walker-Journey
The largest increases in product liability filings involvingpharmaceuticals last month were seen in claims againstBayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ blood thinnerXarelto, and Fresenius Medical Care’s dialysis concentratesGranuFlo and NaturaLyte, according to Reuters’ analysis of statistics from the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
Bayer and Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, have enjoyed billion-dollar profits from their blood thinnerXarelto since it hit the market in 2011. Xarelto has since been approved for multiple indications including stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, treating and preventing blood clots in the legs and lungs, and preventing blood clots in patients who have undergone knee or hip replacement surgery.
Xarelto was the second in a new class of blood thinners designed to replace the long-used warfarin. Boehringer Ingelheim’s Pradaxa was the first to enter the market in 2010, but reports of serious bleeding events slowed sales and Xarelto was able to profit off of Pradaxa’s loss. However, the victory was short lived because, like Pradaxa, Xarelto has been associated with thousands of adverse bleeding events including gastrointestinal bleeds and brain hemorrhages, some of which have led to death. Bayer and Janseen now face a wave of lawsuits claiming the company failed to adequately warn doctors or patients of the serious bleeding risks with Xarelto therapy.
Fresenius Medical Care is also facing a slew of lawsuits involving personal injuries and wrongful death from its dialysis products GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. The lawsuits claim that Fresenius, the world’s largest provider of dialysis products and services, did not properly label GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, which led to overdoses of bicarbonate, which resulted in serious cardiovascular events including sudden cardiac arrest. The lawsuits also claim that Fresenius tried to hide this issue from patients and doctors outside Fresenius-owned dialysis clinics.
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More Xarelto Lawsuits Filed As Trials Move Forward
May 13, 2015 | Lawyers and Settlements
By Heidi Turner
A new Xarelto lawsuit has been filed alleging Xarelto bleeding complications put patients at risk of serious health problems. In the past month, in fact, almost 100 lawsuits have been added to Xarelto multidistrict litigation, which consolidates Xarelto side effects lawsuits for pre-trial proceedings.
According to court documents, as of April 15, 2015, there were 402 lawsuits consolidated in MDL 2592 before US District Judge Eldon E. Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana. That’s up from 311 lawsuits consolidated by mid-March and up dramatically from the 33 lawsuits that sat in the MDL as of December 15, 2014. And although those numbers don’t quite match Pradaxa’s litigation numbers, there is still plenty of time for more lawsuits to be added.
Lawsuits like Mary Walker’s (Mary Walker et al. v. Janssen Research & Development et al, case number 2:15-cv-01971), which alleges that the defendants “fervently marketed Xarelto using print advertisements, online marketing on their website, and video advertisements with regard to the accuracy and repercussions of their misleading advertising in favor of increasing sales.”
The lawsuit claims that in the first eight months of 2013 there were 968 suspected adverse events linked to Xarelto, “including 72 cases of death” in Germany. In 2012, The Institute for Safe Medication Practices reportedly identified 356 reports of serious or fatal injury linked to rivaroxaban (the generic version of Xarelto). Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a study showed that rivaroxaban was no worse than warfarin - an older anticoagulant - but that warfarin was not properly used.It further claims that the defendants did not warn about the lack of a Xarelto antidote.
Among the injuries alleged in the lawsuit were those to Mary Walker, who began her Xarelto prescription in November 2014 and shortly afterwards was hospitalized for rectal bleeding, suffering serious injuries. Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege they suffered severe gastrointestinal bleeding and were hospitalized as a result.
Xarelto and other new anticoagulants were marketed as being superior to warfarin because they do not require daily blood monitoring. Unlike warfarin, however, the new anticoagulants do not currently have an approved antidote, meaning patients are at risk of suffering an uncontrolled bleeding event. -
Xarelto Bleeding Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit
May 13, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Paul Tassin
A Kansas widow filed a Xarelto bleeding lawsuit, claiming Xarelto caused her husband’s death.
Plaintiff Evelyn B. says her husband Donald took Xarelto in February and March 2013 as a treatment for his atrial fibrillation. On March 17 of that year, Donald began to suffer a severe gastrointestinal bleed, which Evelyn alleges led to his death that November.
Her Xarelto bleeding lawsuit names as defendants Janssen Pharmaceuticals, parent company Johnson & Johnson, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, and several of their related companies, all of which are involved in the manufacture or distribution of Xarelto.Xarelto and Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Xarelto, also known under the generic name rivaroxaban, is an anticoagulant medication used to lower the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, to treat pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis and reduce their risk of recurrence, and to prevent deep vein thrombosis for recipients of hip or knee replacement.
Xarelto has been on the market since its initial approval by the FDA in July 2011. Since then it has been a huge success for its manufacturers, with sales reaching about $2 billion in fiscal 2013.
Xarelto is one of a new generation of anticoagulant medications introduced around the same time as alternatives to warfarin, the dominant anticoagulant for over 50 years. These medications were touted as an improvement over warfarin in that they did not require constant blood testing and dosage adjustment.
But they also have one significant drawback that warfarin does not: the new medications do not have any antidote, or reversal agent, that can make them stop excessive bleeding once it starts. Excessive bleeding caused by warfarin can be resolved by administering vitamin K.
Several clinical trials of Xarelto showed it creates an increased risk of bleeding. One set of clinical trials on which the FDA’s approval was based, known as the RECORD studies, found that compared to the alternative medication enoxaparin, Xarelto had a higher incidence of bleeding that led to decreased hemoglobin and need for blood transfusions.
Other studies, known as the ROCKET AF studies, found that Xarelto, while not inferior to warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients, did result in more frequent instances of gastrointestinal bleeding and other bleeding that resulted in lowered hemoglobin or need for transfusion.
A third group of studies, grouped under the EINSTEIN classification and directed at evaluating Xarelto’s effectiveness in treating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, found Xarelto presented obvious greater risks of bleeding events compared to a placebo.
Despite the bad news revealed in these clinical trials, Evelyn alleges, the defendants improperly represented Xarelto as being safe for its indicated use while concealing vital information about Xarelto side effects from the public and the medical profession. She alleges the defendants used the positive results from these studies to promote Xarelto while ignoring the results that show the increased risk of Xarelto bleeding.
The defendants’ Xarelto promotional materials have received similar negative attention from the FDA, which in June 2013 ordered them to stop using a print ad that the FDA determined was false or misleading because it minimized the risks associated with Xarelto.
Evelyn’s wrongful death Xarelto lawsuit seeks compensation for her late husband’s pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost earnings. Evelyn is also seeking punitive damages based on the allegedly intentional nature of defendants’ conduct.
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Xarelto Lawsuit Alleges “Severe and Permanent Injuries”
May 13, 2015 | Drug Reporter
By Whitney Taylor
A plaintiff that filed a Xarelto lawsuit in Georgia alleges use of the drug led to life-threatening bleeding, permanent injury and loss of enjoyment of life. The plaintiff further states that Xarelto manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, as well as Janssen’s mother company Bayer, failed to provide proper warning about the risks associated with their product, despite studies that indicated such a risk existed.Multiple defendants named
William Hutchison filed his complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on March 19, 2015. The complaint lists a number of defendants involved in the manufacturing and marketing of Xarelto, including Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. According to Hutchison, all of these companies also failed to disclose the risks of Xarelto to the FDA, the public, the healthcare community and to the plaintiff.
Hutchison used Xarelto as prescribed by his physician from March 30, 2013, until around April 3, 2013. On April 3, Hutchison experienced serious internal bleeding, which led to a cardiac tamponade, a dangerous condition that can be deadly if it is not treated promptly. A cardiac tamponade involves pressure on the heart when fluid or blood builds up in the area between the heart muscle and the outer sac of the heart. Surgery may be required to drain the fluid and repair damage.
Hutchison states that he underwent emergency cardiothoracic surgery on April 3, the same day as his life-threatening event. Although the surgery saved his life, Hutchison asserts that he continues to suffer “severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, suffering and emotional distress” as a result of the event. The plaintiff has suffered loss of enjoyment of life and faces significant medical expenses as a result of his injuries.About Xarelto
Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a relatively new type of anticoagulant designed to replace warfarin for some patients. Warfarin, the traditional blood-thinning drug, requires dietary restrictions and ongoing monitoring. Xarelto has been marketed as a convenient solution for treating patients with atrial fibrillation to prevent the risk of stroke, due to the fact it does not have those same requirements. However, unlike warfarin, Xarelto does not have a reversing agent if a bleeding event occurs, which could lead to uncontrollable bleeding and death.
In his complaint, Hutchison states that in the year leading up to June 30, 2012, 1,080 adverse event reports were filed with the FDA regarding bleeding events related to Xarelto. Eight percent of those reports resulted in death, which was twice the number of deaths associated with warfarin. By the end of 2012, more than 2,000 adverse event reports had been filed, with 151 resulting in death.Defendants’ failure to warn
Despite this data, Hutchison accuses the defendants in this case of failing to share the risk information with the medical community or general public. They also failed to conduct additional studies on Xarelto to determine its safety in light of this new information. To this day, defendants have failed to provide adequate warning about the risks associated with Xarelto, despite studies that have shown a link between use of the anticoagulant and a higher risk of life-threatening bleeding events.
Hutchison is not the first to file a Xarelto lawsuit. Currently, numerous plaintiffs have filed cases inmultidistrict litigation in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, claiming the drug led to serious injuries and bleeding events. Multidistrict litigation was established in December 2014 in order to streamline early trial proceedings for a growing number of lawsuits.
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Xarelto Lawsuit Filed in Georgia District Court
May 14, 2015 | Injury Lawyer News
By Stephanie Reid
On March 19, 2015, one of the most recent victims of the alleged dangerous drug known as Xarelto (rivaroxaban) filed a personal injury lawsuit in United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Gainesville division).
In his allegations, the plaintiff asserts he was severely and wrongfully injured by the product, which is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson, Inc. More specifically, the plaintiff contends that the blood thinner Xarelto caused unexpected, life-threatening internal bleeding causing hospitalization and long-term observation.
Moreover, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants knew of the dangers of Xarelto and failed to adequately warn unsuspecting patients of the increased risk of harm.Background of federal Xarelto lawsuit
Xarelto is one of the most popular recent drugs on the American pharmaceutical market, and is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue for its designers and manufacturers. Notwithstanding, its side effects are allegedly life-threatening when used in patients at a heightened risk for bleeding, which is precisely the factual scenario surrounding the plaintiff’s allegations in this most recent case.
The drug Xarelto is a blood thinner, not unlike its predecessor warfarin. However, unlike the wildly popular warfarin, there is no antidote to control the effects of Xarelto in the event a patient’s blood thins too rapidly, which can cause a host of potentially-fatal problems for those undergoing Xarelto therapy.
Xarelto is intended for use in patients experience blood clots not caused by atrial fibrillation. It is also often prescribed for patients enduring deep-vein thrombosis, or those recovering from a stroke. In today’s case, the plaintiff was prescribed Xarelto by his physician for a period of three days in 2013, and was abruptly taken off the medication after suffering from a “large hemopericardium/pericardial effusion,” which is described as the presence of blood in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart. For this plaintiff, the condition was fortunately stabilized following immediate hospitalization and heart surgery to correct the problem.
As a result of his experience, the plaintiff has requested relief in the form of compensatory damages, including compensation for his pain, suffering, and emotional turmoil following the experience. As is customary in federal civil litigation, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, and has requested the court to award a verdict in an amount it deems fair and proper.Plaintiff raises several allegations against the makers of Xarelto
Not unlike the dozens of other plaintiffs awaiting resolution for their similar Xarelto lawsuits, the plaintiff in this case has alleged a number of causes of action against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. At the heart of the matter is the allegation of defendants’ categorical indifference to the plight of patients treated with Xarelto, despite an alleged knowledge that it could cause serious internal bleeding.Moreover, the plaintiff alleges the following counts:Negligence: Failing to use reasonable care in marketing and promoting Xarelto to patients and physiciansStrict Products Liability: Xarelto is too unreasonably dangerous to be in the stream of commerceBreach of Express Warranty: Defendants assured consumers Xarelto was safe, when it carries an increased risk of harmBreach of Implied Warranty: Xarelto is not fit for its ordinary purposeFraudulent Misrepresentation: Defendants engaged in fraudulent practices when promoting and marketing its productFraudulent Concealment: Defendants concealed the true nature of Xarelto by failing to disclose known risksNegligent Misrepresentation: Defendants acted unreasonable in failing to properly disclose the risks inherent in the Xarelto drugFraud & Deceit: Defendants deceived consumers and committed fraudulent acts in the marketing of XareltoViolation of Georgia Fair Business Practices Act: Defendants violated Georgia’s state consumer protection act.
In addition to the compensatory damages listed above, the plaintiff is also seeking punitive damagesto redress the wanton, intentional and/or reckless conducted engaged in by the defendants when marketing Xarelto.
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Xarelto Plaintiffs to be Identified for Early Trial Settings
May 14, 2015 | American Injury Attorney Group
By Staff
More than 400 Xarelto lawsuits are currently pending against Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Healthcare, alleging that the companies failed to disclose risks of severe side effects of Xarelto, including internal bleeding. Parties have been ordered by the U.S. District Judge presiding over federal Xarelto litigation to identify 40 to 60 plaintiffs to go through case-specific discovery and early trial settings.
If you or a loved one took Xarelto and suffered severe complications including internal bleeding, contact the American Injury Attorney Group today for more information. We can answer your questions in a free, no obligation consultation, and if you have a case, we can connect you with an affiliated Xarelto lawsuit attorney. The time to pursue a claim is limited, so contact us today.Parties to Confer Regarding Initial Trials
In a case management order on May 4, 2015, the court ordered that parties are to meet prior to June 15, 2015 to propose a process for identifying the cases that will be included in a “bellwether” pool. Bellwether trials are the initial trials in large scale litigation, such as the Xarelto lawsuits, and are conducted to help gauge the response of juries to evidence and testimony that may be repeated throughout the litigation.
Federal Xarelto cases have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL is established when pursuing individual claims is inefficient and the respective damages to the plaintiffs are unique so that a class action is not appropriate. Exclusive to federal courts, an MDL transfers a certain number of individual cases to a single court for pretrial proceedings.Injured Patients May Be Eligible for Compensation
Patients who have been injured by Xarelto may be entitled to compensation from the party responsible for their injuries. Compensation, or damages, can be based on a number of factors, including:The nature, extent and permanency of the injuryPast and future medical expensesTransportation and lodging costs due to medical treatmentPast and future pain, suffering and mental anguish
If a loved one is killed, family members may be entitled to recover wrongful death damages, including:Mental anguish, both past and future, resulting from the loss of a loved oneLoss of financial supportFuneral expensesConscious pain and suffering of the loved one prior to deathMedical expenses attributable to the fatal injuryThe Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you or a loved one took Xarelto and suffered severe complications, including internal bleeding, contact the American Injury Attorney Group for more information. We can answer your questions, inform you of your options, and connect you with an affiliated Xarelto lawsuit attorney. The time to pursue a claim is limited, so contact us today.
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Judge Schedules Science Day in Xarelto Litigation
May 14, 2015 | Legal Examiner - New York
By Roopal Luhana
In December 2014, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated all federal Xarelto lawsuits into one court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Eldon E. Fallon was appointed to oversee the proceedings.
Currently, over 400 cases are pending in the Xarelto MDL, with both sides working to coordinate the gathering of facts and to create and approve master documents to make the litigation proceed more efficiently. The court also plans to coordinate proceedings with state courts, including the current Xarelto mass tort that has been established in Pennsylvania.
Judge Fallon Schedules a Xarelto “Science Day”
Plaintiffs who are seeking compensation from Xarelto manufacturers Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Pharma claim that Xarelto caused them to suffer from serious side effects like uncontrolled bleeding, strokes, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and deep vein thrombosis. They also claim the defendants did not do enough to warn patients and doctors of the risks, and that they should have conducted additional clinical trials to determine the product’s safety before releasing it on the market.
On April 7, 2015, Judge Fallon ordered a “Science Day” to take place on June 11, 2015. This is a type of hearing unique to pharmaceutical drug litigation in which both parties will have the chance to explain their view of the medical and scientific facts behind how the drug works, the studies that have been conducted so far, and the results of those studies and what they mean for patients. They’ll also have the opportunity to address any scientific evidence supporting or denying the plaintiffs’ claims.
A science day of this nature usually involves the testimony of several expert witnesses, including physicians and researchers that can support each side’s arguments. Plaintiffs are likely to present information, witnesses, and research that supports their claims that Xarelto causes serious side effects like uncontrolled bleeding and strokes, and defendants are likely to present information supporting the safety of the drug.
Manufacturers Downplay Xarelto Risks
The FDA approved the use of Xarelto in July 2011 to help reduce the risk of blood clots in patients going through knee or hip replacement surgery. They later approved it to reduce risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Xarelto is a “newer-generation” blood thinner, available in three once-a-day doses of 10, 15, and 20 mg. The manufacturers advertised it as a better alternative to warfarin, the leading anticoagulant, because of the convenient dosing, and because it required no blood monitoring or dietary restrictions. In the third quarter of 2013, Xarelto was the number one pharmaceutical product advertised in professional health journals based on pages and dollars spent.
In 2013, the FDA sent a letter to the manufacturers, claiming their promotional materials were false and misleading, minimized the risks of Xarelto, and made misleading claims. That same year, the number of serious adverse events associated with Xarelto reported to the FDA overtook those associated with Pradaxa, a similar blood-thinning drug.
Nevertheless, manufacturers refused to make any changes in their warnings about Xarelto, and continued to downplay the fact that the drug had no readily available antidote. In other words, patients taking warfarin could be treated with vitamin K injections should they suffer uncontrollable bleeding, but there was no such treatment for bleeding caused by Xarelto, leaving patients much more vulnerable to hospitalization and death.
Bellwether Trials Soon to Be Scheduled
As the MDL proceeds, it is expected that the number of cases will continue to grow as more plaintiffs join the litigation. Judge Fallon is expected to soon schedule a start date for the first bellwether trials, which help both parties determine how juries may react to the evidence.
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Xarelto Linked to Uncontrolled Bleeding
May 15, 2015 | Top Class Actions
By Laura Schultz
A new Xarelto lawsuit was filed in federal court, alleging that the drug company Janssen Research and Development manufactured a defective and dangerous drug that caused the patient to suffer adverse side effects. This Xarelto lawsuit is a part of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the drug manufacturer.
Plaintiff Carolyn H. of Alabama brought the Xarelto lawsuit. Carolyn began taking Xarelto in April of 2013 after her treating physician prescribed it. The Xarelto lawsuit alleges that in May of 2013, Carolyn suffered hematuria, or blood in the urine, as a result of taking Xarelto. The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants either negligently or fraudulently hid defects associated with Xarelto from the medical community and general public. Carolyn is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
According to Carolyn’s Xarelto lawsuit, Janssen Research and Development made representations to induce medical professionals to prescribe the medication to patients and induce the general public to request the particular brand, while neglecting to fully inform the public of the medication’s dangerous side effects.What is Xarelto?
Xarelto, generically known as rivaroxaban, is a popular anticoagulant used to treat patients who are at risk for forming blood clots. Xarelto is specifically used to treat clots known as deep vein thrombosis, which can lead to pulmonary embolism (clots in the lungs). Xarelto is also U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat patients with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder. In these cases the medication is prescribed to lower the risk of stroke caused by blood clots. Sometimes medical professionals also prescribe Xarelto to patients for off-label, or non FDA-approved, uses. It is not illegal for doctors to prescribe a medication for an off-label use, but it is illegal for drug manufacturers to promote medication for non FDA approved uses.Dangerous Side Effects Associated With Xarelto
Anticoagulant drugs like Xarelto are some of the most dangerous drugs on the market according to the FDA. A study published in April of 2011 found that Xarelto patients are twice as likely to experience uncontrolled bleeding compared to patients taking other types of anticoagulants.
Manufacturers of Xarelto promote the medication as superior to some of the more established anticoagulants on the market. Xarelto, unlike the anticoagulant Warfarin, does not require patients to follow strict dietary regulations and blood monitoring. Unfortunately, unlike Warfarin, Xarelto has no known antidote to stop uncontrolled bleeding in patients. When patients taking Warfarin begin to experience uncontrolled bleeding, medical professionals can administer a dose of vitamin K mixed with plasma as an antidote. No similar antidote exists for Xarelto.Xarelto Lawsuits
Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Xarelto lawsuits. Settlements and awards from these lawsuits will help plaintiffs pay both past and future medical bills as well as compensate victims for the pain and suffering they experienced allegedly due to taking the medication.
The Xarelto Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-01502-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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New Generation Anticoagulants: Profits Over Patients?
May 15, 2015 | Legal Examiner - Illinois
By Steven Davis
When a new medication hits the market, is the emphasis on how many people will it help, or how much money will it make?
Nine out of Ten of the Big Pharma companies now spend more on marketing their products than on research and development, according to Global Data. Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization, this pressure to maintain sales presents an “inherent conflict of interest between the legitimate business goals of manufacturers and the social, medical and economic needs of providers and the public to select and use drugs in the most rational way.”
Blood-clot fighters are expected to grow faster than any other drug over the next five years and the financial stakes are enormous. It should be no surprise, that Big Pharma has focused a lot of their marketing budgets fighting for a piece of this market share.
Warfarin vs. the New Generation Anticoagulants
Amid a blitz of advertising, patients and their physicians are left to weigh the pros and the cons of the blood thinners currently on the market, taking into consideration cost, convenience, and safety.
Warfarin, the inexpensive generic form of Coumadin, costs only $80 to $100 a year, but can be a hassle for doctors and patients because weekly blood tests are needed to determine the proper dose, it has drug interactions with a number of other medications, and its absorption is affected by certain foods, making dietary changes necessary. But warfarin does have an antidote, vitamin K, which quickly and easily reverses any bleeding events the patient may experience.
The new generation blood thinners Xarelto and Pradaxa are not available in generic form, may not be covered by insurance, and are expensive: Xarelto costs upwards of $3,000 a year, for example. The new generation blood thinners don’t require frequent blood tests and have few drug interaction issues, but they have no approved antidote to stop uncontrolled hemorrhaging, and the manufacturer’s one-size-fits-all dosing may not be accurate, putting patients at dangerous risk.
Profits Over Patients?
According to Forbes, although a pharmaceutical company is in the business of making drugs, it better make profits, too. The companies responsible for discovering and developing life saving drugs must do so in a way that generates significant profits, and if they don’t, investors will take their money elsewhere, no matter how many lives could potentially be saved or how many lawsuits might be filed.
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Xarelto Poses Serious Risk of GI Bleeding
May 15, 2015 | Lowe Law Group
By Staff
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health working with George Washington University recently published an article that revealed Xarelto may present double warfarin’s risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeds.
The information was based upon data from 46,000 patients who took the anticoagulat medications Xarelto and warfarin. Wanting to examine the ongoing issues with new generation anticoagulants (NOACs) like Xarelto compared to the classic conventional treatments like warfarin.
Much has been made about Xarelto. Its hype centered around its convenience when compared to warfarin. Despite the drug’s praise, there has been an increasing suspicion that it is leading to uncontrolled bleeding events in thousands of patients.
Two benefits of Xarelto that its makers praised over warfarin were the use of Xarelto requires less frequent monitoring and doesn’t share as many associated drug interactions as warfarin does. Where the legal argument gets heated is when scientists point out warfarin’s clear advantage.
Warfarin when compared to new generation anticoagulants has one distinct advantage and that is that it’s an effective antidote. When warfarin’s blood thinning abilities go too far, it can quickly be reversed with vitamin K.
There are no such antidotes for Xarelto. So while increased bleeding is a risk that is relatively common in both Xarelto and warfarin, a bleeding event that has occurred has a result of new generation blood thinners cannot effectively be stopped by doctors.
Naturally, bleeding is the most important adverse event associated with anticoagulants. Though reversing agents for Xarelot have been proposed, not of the agents have yet to pass clinical trials.
With no reversal agent and a statistically increased risk for uncontrolled bleeding events, personal injury attorneys at Lowe Law Group are continuing to investigate and file new Xarelto claims with a goal of educating the public and helping those who have experienced negative effects of Xarelto use.
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Keep Celebrating Bayer … Xarelto is Just Starting
May 15, 2015 | Ring of Fire Blog
By Justin Lane
The Xarelto Internet home page trumpets “#1 Prescribed Blood Thinner in Its Class!” This news is accompanied by three popular celebrities: Saturday Night Live alumnus Kevin Nealon, retired golf legend Arnold Palmer, and NASCAR driver Brian Vickers (proudly displaying the name of his corporate sponsor on the front of his jacket – something that members of CONgress should be doing as well).
Apparently, these happy celebrities have yet to suffer the uncontrolled hemorrhaging associated with Xarelto and other “next generation” anti-coagulants.
Meanwhile, in Louisiana alone, the number of Xarelto lawsuits is up 1200% since December 2014, from 33 to over 400. A quarter of those were filed since mid-April of 2015, and many more are in the pipeline. According to allegations, there were nearly 1,000 “adverse events” between January and September of 2013, more than seventy of which were fatal. Over 350 more were reported in Germany the previous year.
The cause of action is one that is frequently listed in such filings: “failure to warn.” Manufacturer Bayer (which historically has demonstrated little regard for human life) was allegedly aware that there was no antidote for the medication, which (unlike rival medication Pradaxa) cannot even be reversed with emergency dialysis.
The Honorable Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is overseeing the current multi-district litigation in U.S. District Court in Louisiana, recently issued a pre-trial order designating approximately fifty pending lawsuits for discovery (the process by which all evidence on both sides is made available for examination by the Court). Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have up to eighty days to submit fact sheets relevant to the case, including records of communications with treating physicians who have prescribed Xarelto to plaintiffs. More information regarding the Xarelto litigation is available atXarelto Lawsuit web site.
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