After months of anticipation, legal experts finally see their prediction come true as the first plaintiff files a wrongful death suit against Pfizer Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb, alleging Eliquis caused her husband to die from uncontrollable internal bleeding. Similar to earlier anticoagulant lawsuits, this case alleges that the blood thinner’s manufacturers failed to protect the decedent from the dangers of their product.

Deborah H., the widowed wife of Donald H., filed the Eliquis lawsuit alleging that the drug’s manufacturers failed to mention the lack of a reversal agent in the case of internal bleeding, even as they advertised Eliquis as a superior product.

Donald was prescribed Eliquis to treat his atrial fibrillation. After using the drug for only a short period of time, he suffered massive gastrointestinal bleeding and was admitted to the hospital. Despite various attempts, doctors were unable to stop the bleeding and Donald died the same day.

The wrongful death suit claims that an Eliquis clinical study contained many errors, and that the drug’s manufacturers fraudulently marketed Eliquis. Additionally, Deborah alleges that information was concealed from the patient population and medical community.

Overview of Eliquis Bleeding Allegations

Eliquis is the most recent new-generation anticoagulant to hit the market. The FDA approved it in 2012, after Pfizer and Bristol-Myers made a joint effort to break into the lucrative anticoagulant market.

The new-gen anticoagulant medications, which also include Pradaxa and Xarelto, are meant to give patients more choices and directly compete with the older anticoagulant Warfarin. Anticoagulants are typically prescribed to patients suffering from atrial fibrillation who are at a high risk for stroke.

Each of the new-generation anticoagulants have been alleged to cause uncontrollable internal bleeding events in patients. Pradaxa and Xarelto have already been subject to many lawsuit, and Eliquis now joins the litigation club.

This Eliquis Lawsuit is Debora H. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb & Pfizer Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-04620, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.