Popular blood-thinning drug Xarelto is prescribed to patients to prevent blood clots and prevent strokes. Most patients do not know that Xarelto may also cause irreversible internal bleeding, often resulting in extended hospitalizations and death. Xarelto lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are currently accepting cases of serious bleeding events from Xarelto use.
Xarelto is a billion-dollar drug very similar to the blood-thinner Pradaxa, which is also known to cause devastating and fatal bleedouts. Both Xarelto and Pradaxa were introduced onto market to replace warfarin, which has been the first-line blood thinner for the last 60 years.
Blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, prevent the obstruction of blood flow to vital organs. Warfarin was a revolutionary drug when it was invented in the mid-1950s, and it was the most widely used anticoagulant in the world for many decades. Warfarin does require a commitment for patients, however; patients taking it must take it at the exact same time every day, change their diet and lifestyle, and go to regular checkups.
Not surprisingly, Big Pharma worked hard to develop a newer, less intensive drug to replace warfarin as the preeminent blood thinning medication. Pradaxa (made by Boehringer Ingelheim) and Xarelto (manufactured by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson) are the result of this years-long effort.
Pradaxa was the first challenger on U.S. markets, in 2010, with runaway success. It was a blockbuster for Boehringer, and by August 2012 more than 3.7 million Americans had filled prescriptions for Pradaxa, while worldwide sales neared $210 million.
Big Pharma Places Profits over Patients
Unfortunately, in order to keep the drug selling, Boehringer failed to notify patients that there was no antidote for the blood thinning effects of Pradaxa, meaning that even minor injuries could cause fatal bleed-outs, leaving doctors without any way to stop bleeding. These bleed-outs continue until the drug is flushed out of the system or the patient dies, whichever comes first.
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Xarelto works in much the same way as Pradaxa, which is why the FDA fast-tracked its approval. Although both Pradaxa and Xarelto cost much (MUCH) more than warfarin and are just as effective, patients often prefer them because they do not require frequent doctor visits or changes in diet or lifestyle visits. What patients do not know that that, unlike warfarin, there is no antidote for bleeding events.
Thousands of deaths are now linked to Pradaxa and Xarelto, resulting in massive litigation against their manufacturers. Families who lost loved ones to fatal bleed-outs are filing suit against these companies, hoping to gain justice for the loss of their loved one, their extensive medical bills and other damages. In May 2014, thousands of Pradaxa lawsuits were settled for about $650 million.
Now, a pharmaceutical company claims to have a new drug that can reverse the effects of Xarelto. The experimental drug, andexanet alfa, was shown to immediately reverse the anticoagulant activity of Xarelto in patients enrolled in studies. Additional data on this study is expected in mid-2015.
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For so many patients, this antidote has come too late. Anyone who suffered a serious bleeding event from Xarelto, or who knows someone who has, may be able to file a lawsuit against its manufacturer. Victims have suffered financial hardships from frequent or extended hospital visits and time away from work, emotional distress, and even funeral expenses. A lawsuit can help you and your family get back on your feet and focus on getting well.
Our team of Xarelto lawyers is currently accepting excessive bleeding claims for clients throughout the country. Call or email our firm today with any questions concerning Xarelto, Pradaxa, or any other harmful drug. We always provide free, confidential legal consultations
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