Risk of Bleeding
Originally approved for its introduction into the market by the FDA in 2012 it fast became one of the top-selling drugs on the market. Soon, however, it became apparent the drug was problematic as thousands of reports started surfacing regarding the drug’s deadly side effects. After less than a year, 2,000 reports were made including 151 deaths. In 2014, the FDA released a warning that Xarelto may cause uncontrollable hemorrhaging. The warning also stated that there was no known antidote to stop the bleeding once it started.
The Bellwether Trials and the MDL
In December of 2014, MDL 2592 was established by Lawyers in the Eastern District of Louisiana by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. On January 29, 2015, the first Xarelto MDL pretrial conference was held by Judge Fallon. After much preparation, the first case is set for trial in April 2017.
The Eastern District of Louisiana will host the first two Bellwether trials which are set for April 24, 2017, which is the Joseph Boudreaux case, and the Joseph Orr case which is set for May 30, 2017. The next two Bellwether trials will be conducted in the Southern District of Mississippi in June 2017 and in the North District of Texas in July 2017.
The Boudreaux case was filed in December 2014. The plaintiff, in this case, claims that he was prescribed for his atrial fibrillation in order to reduce the risk of stroke. However, within a month of taking it, Mr. Boudreaux suffered from a severe and life-threatening gastrointestinal bleed. The plaintiff was hospitalized and received several blood transfusions.
In the Orr case, the plaintiff and her Lawyers allege that his wife, Sharon began taking Rivaroxaban in May 2015 for atrial fibrillation. It is alleged that within one month of her using Rivaroxaban she developed a brain hemorrhage and died after being hospitalized and suffering for 10 days from the bleed.
Plaintiffs in these cases are alleging that the company failed to provide patients with an adequate warning as to the severity of side effects that can accompany taking the drug. They are also claiming that the company fraudulently claimed the drug was safer than other drugs that are used for the same conditions through false advertising. It is alleged that the company also did not make consumers aware of the fact that there is not an antidote to treat the most severe and deadly side effect of Xarelto which is internal bleeding. In addition, it is alleged physicians were encouraged to prescribe the medication without proper knowledge of the severity of the risks of life-threatening side effects.
Xarelto is prescribed to those who have an increased risk of blood clots primarily in patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation. The drug acts as a blood thinner to prevent or treat types of blood clots called deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus. It is an anticoagulant that works by blocking certain proteins in the blood that contribute to clotting.
If you or someone you know has suffered life-threatening side effects or death you may be entitled to receive compensation for your suffering. If you have suffered from any side effects or health complications from the use of Xarelto, we can help you.
There are about 2,000 class action cases involved in the Xarelto Settlements, but it is expected that several thousand additional cases will be filed over the next year or two. The number of lawsuits is expected to grow however due to the fact that as more and more people take the drug, there is an increase in the amount of people with adverse side effects.