As part of a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, a Xarelto bleeding lawsuit was recently filed against Janssen Pharmaceuticals on behalf of a deceased Nebraska woman, who allegedly died as a result of taking the blood thinner.

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an extremely popular anticoagulant or prescription blood thinner that has, in recent years, been the target of a steadily increasing number of Xarelto bleeding lawsuits.

Currently, the prescription blood thinner is facing about 1,200 different Xarelto lawsuits. These lawsuits have been filed by or on behalf of Xarelto users who have subsequently experienced such side effects as gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhaging, or other adverse bleeding events.

All of the cases involved in this multidistrict litigation have similar allegations. The Xarelto bleeding lawsuits all claim that the drug’s makers failed to be completely transparent to the community, neglecting to adequately warn the public and the medical community about their product and its potential Xarelto bleeding side effects.

The cases also allege that Xarelto’s manufacturer needs to be held accountable for its failure to provide an antidote, especially considering the serious side effects alleged in the lawsuits.

Xarelto was introduced in 2011 as a replacement for Coumadin (generic brand warfarin). Xarelto was meant to help reduce the potential for blood clotting in individuals at risk for conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

Xarelto, unlike generic warfarin and other similar anticoagulants, does not have an available antidote to reverse or reduce the drug’s sometimes dangerous effects.

Plaintiffs allege that Xarelto’s manufacturers withheld the fact that their drug did not have an available reversal agent or antidote, making the drug more dangerous in the event of severe Xarelto bleeding side effects.

Coumadin, unlike Xarelto, does have an effective reversal agent available in case of a bleeding emergency.

Of course, not all side effects of Xarelto are severe or dangerous, and not all users of Xarelto suffer its side effects. However, the few that do can undergo a number of potentially severe or even life-threatening bleeding issues that are made even more dangerous by the lack of an antidote.

One of Xarelto’s main selling points over other anticoagulants is that it does not require blood level monitoring. Many Xarelto users view this as a convenience, but the rising number of Xarelto lawsuits suggest that blood level monitoring could be essential in keeping users safe.

Similar allegations have been brought up against Pradaxa, created by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Plaintiffs have won $650 million total in Pradaxa settlements after several years in court.

If you have experienced Xarelto side effects such as Xarelto bleeding, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit.

The Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit is Richardson v. Janssen Research & Development, et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-03695-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.