In the first plaintiff win, a jury orders Xarelto manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Bayer to pay $27.8 million in damages. The manufacturers won the first three cases in Louisiana and Mississippi, however, this shows that justice does eventually prevail.
About Xarelto
Approved by the FDA in 2011, Xarelto is used to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and blood clots. Manufacturers Bayer and Janssen promote the drug has the gold standard for anticoagulants. However, it may be more dangerous than other medications on the market since there is no antidote.
No Way to Stop Xarelto’s Bleeding
By stopping the blood from clotting, blood-thinners can prevent blood clots in people suffering from conditions such as atrial fibrillation. Due to the risk of unstoppable bleeding, researchers developed an “antidote” to stop this effect in the case of emergency in users of warfarin, the most popular anticoagulant for decades.
Xarelto users aren’t so lucky. There is no antidote to reverse the anti-clotting effect of Xarelto in an emergency. This means doctors and surgeons may have limited options. It means that what could be a treatable injury for most people can be a fatal one for Xarelto users. Additionally, unlike other anticoagulants, Xarelto doesn’t push regular blood monitoring. With regular blood monitoring, doctors can adjust the dosage to ensure patients aren’t at risk.
The Pennsylvania Xarelto Trial
This case is the first Pennsylvania bellwether trial, and it involves Lynn Hartman. The case centers around Lynn Hartman. In June 2014, Hartman, who was using Xarelto, had a serious bleeding incident. Doctors hospitalized her for four days. At that time, she received two blood transfusions as medical personnel attempted with some difficulty to locate the source of internal bleeding. Doctors switched Hartman to another blood thinner. She had been taking Xarelto for a little over a year to treat an irregular heartbeat when she suffered gastrointestinal bleeding.
She said that the drug caused her bleeding, and Johnson & Johnson along with Bayer did not properly train doctors or warned about this risk. The jury agreed and awarded the plaintiff $1.8 million in actual damages and $26 million in punitive damages.
Just the Beginning
There are still over 21,000 Xarelto suits pending against Johnson & Johnson and Bayer. Plus, the FDA linked the blood thinner to almost 400 deaths. With a lack of antidote, that number is expected to rise, and the manufacturers do not care. This drug made over $2 billion last year alone. It is more lucrative for them to keep Xarelto on the market than remove it and save the lives of thousands of American consumers.
If Xarelto Injured You
If Xarelto caused your bleeding event like thousands of others, we can to represent you. We are still accepting new clients in all 50 states. Xarelto lawsuits are similar to lawsuits over Pradaxa, another newer-generation anticoagulant. Michael Brady Lynch, the founder of The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is leading the country in Pradaxa lawsuits. Michael was a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in the Pradaxa Multi-District Litigation and was instrumental in securing the $650 million settlement for those injured by Pradaxa’s uncontrollable bleeding. Mr. Lynch continues to be a leader in Pradaxa litigation nationwide in representing those who continue to suffer uncontrollable bleeding events from Pradaxa.
When you are injured, you need an experienced firm to know all the legal avenues to process your claim. The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is that firm. Contact us today, 24/7 to speak to a knowledgeable associate.