Plaintiffs in six
lawsuits alleging injuries caused by the prescription blood-thinner Xarelto
have filed a motion seeking their cases consolidated into an MDL. The motion
was filed October 9th with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation and
requests that all pending and future cases be sent to a judge in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Xarelto
(rivaroxaban) is a blood-thinning drug (anticoagulant) that is used to treat blood
clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolisms. It has been sold by Bayer
HealthCare and Janssen Pharmaceuticals since 2011.
Xarelto is the
second FDA-approved drug in a new generation of anticoagulants that are
marketed as alternatives to warfarin. Warfarin has been a mainstay of
anticoagulation therapy since the 1950s, but it is a problematic drug that
requires frequent dosage adjustments and weekly monitoring. Pradaxa is the
other drug and was approved in 2010, a year ahead of Xarelto.
Xarelto appears
to be extremely similar to Pradaxa. Both
Pradaxa and Xarelto are prescribed in a “one-size-fits-all” pill taken once or
twice a day. They both also require less monitoring than warfarin and do not
require as harsh dietary restrictions.
The problem is
that Xarelto, and Pradaxa, has no effective reversal agent or antidote. Excessive
bleeding attributed to Warfarin can be reversed with a dose of Vitamin K.
Some studies
have also linked Xarelto to a higher risk of bleeding for acutely ill patients.
According to lawsuit allegations filed against Bayer, the company did not warn
the public and want the drug removed from the market.
Boehringer
Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Pradaxa, agreed in May 2014 to pay $650 million to settle approximately
4,000 lawsuits over claims the drug caused serious bleeding episodes.
Pittman, Dutton & Hellums, P.C., is currently
investigating Xarelto cases. If you or a loved one were prescribed Xarelto and
suffered an irreversible internal bleeding that lead to hospitalization and/or death, contact
Booth Samuels at toll free 1-866-515-8880 or by email at booths@pittmanudutton.com.
