Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), recently joined by a new blood thinner lawsuit.

A Texas patient filed this blood thinner lawsuit alleging he suffered potentially fatal internal bleeding complications, and discovering the companies either knew or should have known about the potential dangers.

Plaintiff Richard H. says he was prescribed Xarelto on Jan. 8, 2015 for atrial fibrillation, which is considered a typical treatment purpose.

Xarelto works by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism, which reduces the risk of blood clot injuries. Patients are often prescribed Xarelto if they are at high risk for stroke and other types of blood clotting. Anticoagulants like Xarelto help prevent such complications and prolong patients’ lives.

However, some patients have reported suffering potentially fatal internal bleeding due to the drug’s treatment mechanism.

Richard was no different, having to receive hospital treatment for cerebral artery infarction soon after his Xarelto prescription began. Richard opted to file his blood thinner lawsuit after discovering numerous other patients had been injured by uncontrollable Xarelto bleeding injuries.

Overview of Xarelto Bleeding Complications

According to the FDA’s adverse event data, there were 1,080 Xarelto-related internal bleeding incidents by June 30, 2012, which included at least 65 deaths.

At the close of the 2012 fiscal year, a total of 2,081 Xarelto internal bleeding injury reports were reported to the FDA. It is important to note that this was the first full year the drug was on the market, with the FDA granting approval in 2011.

Xarelto was released just a year after Pradaxa, which was the first drug to be released for anticoagulant purposes since warfarin in the 1950s. Xarelto and other new generation anticoagulants quickly overtook warfarin in popularity, because they could be prescribed in single doses.

In contrast, warfarin patients regularly had to see their doctors for dose adjustments to prevent any dangerous internal bleeding injuries. However, warfarin patients had the option of implementing vitamin K to stop the bleeding in case of internal bleeding complications.

At this time, Xarelto does not have an approved reversal agent and allegedly does not disclose this fact on its warning label. Richard is filing his blood thinner lawsuit alleging the companies failed to warn him and other patients of this danger, and that the company owes them for medical damages.

During all times relevant, Richard says he used the medication for its intended purpose and did not deviate from the prescription’s instructions. In addition, Richard followed the advice of his physician and did not receive any disclosures from either Johnson & Johnson or Bayer HealthCare.

Richard says he and his physician opted for Xarelto based on the marketing materials presented by the companies, which allegedly understated potentially fatal internal bleeding. Richard is having his blood thinner lawsuit filed in MDL No. 2592, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries.

Richard states he would not have used Xarelto if he had known about the dangers of uncontrollable internal bleeding.

This Blood Thinner Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-12888-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.