Generically known as apixaban, Eliquis was brought to market in 2012 by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer. It is part of a new generation of blood thinners that is usually prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation.

For atrial fibrillation patients, Eliquis can help prevent stroke. When a patient’s heart experiences atrial fibrillation, blood pools in one of the upper chambers of the heart. Because of this, the patient is vulnerable to blood clots that can travel in the body and lead to stroke.

Eliquis, a blood thinner, reduces the possibility of clots and thereby stroke as well. Eliquis is also used to avoid clots in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery.

The problem with Eliquis, however, is the serious possibility of uncontrollable internal bleeding.

Created to compete with the long-popular anticoagulant warfarin, Eliquis does not require patients to undergo frequent monitoring like those taking warfarin.

While Eliquis may be more convenient, it does not have an approved antidote to stop uncontrollable internal bleeding like warfarin does and subjects patients to serious blood thinner side effects.

Regardless, Eliquis is popular. In 2014, Eliquis sales reached $774 million.

Trelles’s Eliquis lawsuit claims the staggering sales figures are due to Pfizer’s and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s aggressive marketing campaigns.

Eliquis Lawsuit Brought by Louisiana Man

In his lawsuit, Trelles claims that both Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb were aware of the risks of Eliquis, yet still continued to market the drug to the public and medical community.

The Eliquis lawsuit details how the FDA approved Eliquis largely based on the results of a study known as the Aristotle study, and alleges that the drug companies committed fraud when conducting the study.

The allegedly fraudulent activities include concealing Eliquis side effects, not following up properly with test subjects, and falsifying records.

Trelle’s lawsuit further alleges that at the time Trelles was using Eliquis, the drug did not contain an adequate warning about possible side effects. Allegedly, the two drug companies overstated the efficacy of Eliquis and failed to disclose that there is no reversal agent for Eliquis-related internal bleeding.

Among many other claims the Eliquis lawsuit raises, Trelles also alleges that Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer failed to provide warnings that Eliquis users have a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding as well as an increased risk of needing blood transfusions.

According to the Eliquis lawsuit, the drug companies failed to instruct physicians about proper dosing and inaccurately stated that “one does fits all” patients.