New Orleans, LAWith more than 300 Xarelto lawsuits sitting in multidistrict litigation and more Xarelto side effects lawsuits being filed, plaintiffs could be forgiven for wondering if Xarelto litigation will ultimately match Pradaxa litigation. There are similarities: both drugs were linked to similar side effects and face similar failure-to-warn allegations. But while Pradaxa litigation was largely settled in 2014, Xarelto litigation is just now getting underway.
Xarelto and Pradaxa are both newer-generation anticoagulants, marketed as being superior alternatives to warfarin. Warfarin (known by the brand name of Coumadin) has been on the market for decades to prevent blood clots and strokes, but requires blood monitoring to ensure patients stay in the therapeutic range. Newer-generation anticoagulants are marketed as not requiring blood monitoring.
At issue, however, is the lack of an antidote - a problem linked to newer anticoagulants. Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting - excellent in preventing blood clots and strokes, but dangerous for other bleeding events. Failure of the blood to clot makes it more difficult to stop bleeding, meaning patients who take anticoagulants face a risk of serious bleeding problems. Warfarin has an antidote in the form of vitamin K. Newer anticoagulants do not have a widely accepted antidote, meaning once patients taking the drugs start bleeding, they could be at risk of severe health problems.
Lawsuits filed against Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals allege the companies knew or should have known about the risk of serious bleeding events but did not properly warn patients that there was no accepted antidote to Xarelto.
Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of Pradaxa, faced approximately 9,000 lawsuits alleging patients were injured or died as a result of severe bleeding episodes linked to the drug. In May 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim agreed to settle approximately 4,000 claims in state and federal courts for around $650 million.
As of March 16, 2015, there were approximately 315 federal lawsuits consolidated before US District Judge Eldon E. Fallon in multidistrict litigation. More lawsuits continue to be filed. According to The Madison-St. Clair Record (4/6/15), a lawsuit was filed March 26 by Lola Daniel, alleging she was harmed by using Xarelto. The lawsuit, case number 15-L-177, seeks damages of more than $4.5 million.
The Xarelto lawsuits are consolidated under In re: Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2592, Eastern District of Louisiana.
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