Pfizer and Bristol-Meyers Squib’s newest anticoagulant, Eliquis, has already become the target of many lawsuits concerning uncontrolled internal bleeding risks associated with taking the medication. Attorneys believe that the number of Eliquis lawsuits will greatly increase as more product liability cases against similar drugs like Pradaxa and Xarelto unfold.

What is Eliquis?

Eliquis, or apixaban, was introduced on the market as a blood thinner in 2012. It was introduced as the third member in a new generation of blood thinners intended to compete with warfarin, an industry standard.   Eliquis is prescribed to patients to help prevent blood clots from forming due to atrial fibrillation or after hip or knee replacement surgery. Atrial fibrillation, also known as irregular heartbeat, is a serious condition that can lead to the formation of blood clots, which can travel throughout the body. The FDA has also approved Eliquis for treating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

How Does Eliquis Work?

Blood clots usually form naturally to stop bleeding when the body has been injured. When blood needs to clot the human body activates numerous chemicals that allow the enzyme thrombin to form. Thrombin is key to the blood clotting process, it assists the formation of proteins that are necessary to cause blood cells to clot. Eliquis acts as an thrombin inhibitor, preventing the enzyme from forming. This helps patients who have an increased tendency of forming blood clots.

Eliquis Side Effects

Manufacturers aggressively marketed Eliquis as a superior alternative to warfarin which requires patients to continually monitor their blood and diet. Unfortunately, unlike warfarin, one of the serious side effects of Eliquis is that it has no known antidote for uncontrolled bleeding. Uncontrolled bleeding occurring in patients using warfarin can be administered with a mixture of vitamin K and blood plasma to counteract the thinning properties of the anticoagulant medication. Although medical researchers are trying to find a similar antidote for Equilis, attempts thus far have proven to be unsuccessful.

Although Eliquis and similar blood thinners may require less follow up, the FDA considers these drugs some of the most dangerous anticoagulants on the market. Serious side effects found in many of the Eliquis lawsuits include bleeding on the brain, intestinal bleeding, kidney bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, and uncontrolled internal bleeding.

Eliquis Lawsuits

Similar drugs like Pradaxa and Xarelto have faced thousands of product liability lawsuits for causing uncontrollable bleeding in patients. In 2014, the manufacturers of Pradaxa agreed to a $650 million settlement. The Pradaxa settlement was distributed to plaintiffs in 4,000 Pradaxa lawsuits. Bayer and Johnson & Johnson are also facing similar lawsuits for their anticoagulant Xarelto.

As more victims who suffered from Eliquis side effects come forward, the number of product liability lawsuits filed against Eliquis is expected to rise. These Eliquis lawsuits allege that Pfizer violated consumer protections laws and generally include product liability claims, negligent and intentional misrepresentation, and breach of warranty. In some cases, the spouses of victims are joining the lawsuits as co-plaintiffs in order to bring loss of consortium claims or loss of spousal intimacy claims. Settlements and awards from these lawsuits will help many victims pay past and future medical bills, and may serve as compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced due to taking Eliquis.