Thousands of people who took the blood thinner Pradaxa suffered side effects, and hundreds of people died.

These people and their families filed lawsuits for compensation and many were able to receive a substantial Pradaxa settlement when the drug maker resolved over 4,000 lawsuits in 2014.

Pradaxa – A Brief Description

Pradaxa (Generic: Dabigatran) was approved for use in the United States by the FDA in 2010, and it is a member of a class of medications known as direct thrombin inhibitors.  Basically, thrombin inhibitors work by blocking or interrupting one of the body’s natural chemical reactions that leads to blood clotting.

People who have irregular heartbeats often need this medication as do people who are undergoing surgeries such as hip and knee replacements, as blood clotting can be a serious problem in those situations.

The FDA approved Pradaxa in 2010, and within six months, patients were reporting serious side effects including over 4,000 reports of serious Pradaxa bleeding events and 542 deaths among users.

Drug Maker Pays Big in Pradaxa Settlement

The maker of the Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim, also failed to warn of these potential dangers and the fact that no antidote at that time existed to stop them.

In recent years, thousands of bleeding victims and their loved ones filed Pradaxa lawsuits. Due to the number of claims filed, cases were consolidated to a special federal multidistrict Litigation court in Illinois. The case was known as MDL No. 2385, In re: Pradaxa Product Liability Litigation, Southern District of Illinois.

During the course of litigation, evidence was presented to show that Boehringer Ingelheim knew of the internal bleeding risks of the drug, concealed internal studies rather than warn patients, and even destroyed evidence requested by the court.

In May of 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim agreed to pay $650 million to settle these lawsuits. This Pradaxa settlement resolved most of the 4,000 cases in state and federal courts. That amounted to an average Pradaxa settlement of $162,500 for each claimant.

In agreeing to the Pradaxa settlement, the company denied any wrongdoing.

Is There a Pradaxa Antidote?

In at least one regard, however, the situation has changed significantly. An antidote for Pradaxa, a drug called Praxbind, was approved by the FDA on October 15, 2015. In a clinical trial, Praxbind was able to fully reverse uncontrolled bleeding in 89% of 123 patients within four hours, according to the FDA.

Still, the approval of Praxbind comes too late for many patients who suffered Pradaxa bleeding or died as a result.

Pradaxa Lawsuit Update

Far more than 4,000 people may have been harmed by Pradaxa, and now, patients and families who were left out of the first Pradaxa settlement have chosen to bring their own legal actions against Boeringher Ingelheim.

Their accusations are similar to those leveled during the first round of litigation, claiming that the manufacturer’s warnings remain inadequate.

In some cases, filing a Pradaxa lawsuit is the only way to recoup money lost from hospital expenses, lost wages and, in the worst cases, funeral costs. Some people file a Pradaxa lawsuit because they don’t want other families to suffer the way they have.

In determining the amount of any damages from Pradaxa, the following are some of the common factors that a jury or court may consider, and which will be taken into consideration in determining average Pradaxa settlement offers:

• The extent and duration of the injury from Pradaxa
• The effect that the Pradaxa injury had on the overall physical and mental health or well-being of the plaintiff
• The pain and mental anguish suffered in the past and which will likely be suffered in the future
• The amount of any past or future medical expenses caused by Pradaxa use
• Any lost wages or loss of earning capacity
• In the case of a Pradaxa wrongful death lawsuit, the losses suffered by the surviving family members will also be considered, including the loss of love, affection and companionship

Your Legal Options

If you or a loved one has suffered from internal bleeding because of this drug, you may have legal options.

To determine whether you or a loved one may be entitled to financial compensation through any future Pradaxa settlement negotiations, request a free consultation and no obligation case evaluation with an experienced Pradaxa attorney.