Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Healthcare are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims alleging problems with the Xarelto anticoagulant.

One of the most recent claims was filed by a man from Ohio, alleging he suffered serious internal bleeding complications soon after being prescribed the Xarelto anticoagulant.

Plaintiff Mark B. filed legal action against the companies, alleging their aggressive marketing tactics exaggerated the benefits and minimized the risks associated with the Xarelto anticoagulant.

The Xarelto anticoagulant is a new generation blood thinner medication, which is typically prescribed for patients who are at high risk for stroke due to conditions like atrial fibrillation.

Xarelto and other anticoagulants work by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism, which increases the body’s circulation of blood flow. However, this also causes the body’s internal bleeding recovery mechanism to shut down, which patients at risk for potentially fatal internal bleeding complications.

This was also allegedly the case with Mark, who had been prescribed the Xarelto anticoagulant for typical treatment purposes. According to the Xarelto lawsuit, Mark was prescribed the medication in 2013 and ended it the same year when he suffered an internal bleeding event.

The internal bleeding event allegedly caused him to be hospitalized, with doctors confirming that the Xarelto anticoagulant contributed to the event. Mark opted to file legal action soon after the event, in discovering other patients had suffered similar injuries from the Xarelto anticoagulant.

Overview of Xarelto Bleeding Complications

The Xarelto anticoagulant was approved by the FDA in 2011, which was one year after Pradaxa entered the market. Pradaxa was the first drug to be released for blood thinning purposes since warfarin in the 1960s, which differs greatly from the new generation anticoagulants.

In contrast to warfarin, Xarelto and other new generation anticoagulants can be prescribed in a single dose and do not require frequent doctor appointments for dose adjustments. However, Xarelto had lacked an approved reversal agent in case of internal bleeding events for years with Andexxa only recently receiving FDA in May 2018.

Before Andexxa was approved, patients were at risk for uncontrollable internal bleeding if prescribed the Xarelto anticoagulant. Even though the Xarelto anticoagulant posed potentially fatal internal bleeding complications to patients, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to warn the general public.

At all times relevant, Mark had used the Xarelto anticoagulant for its intended purpose and did not deviate from prescription instructions. Mark and his physician had also relied on the marketing statements and product information provided by the pharmaceuticals companies, which gave him no reason to be wary against potentially fatal internal bleeding complications.

Mark states he would not have agreed to take the Xarelto anticoagulant if he had known the risks associated with the medication.

Mark’s Xarelto lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2592 and will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries from the blood thinner medication. By joining and MDL, Mark’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Mark’s Xarelto lawsuit is seeking multiple damages, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Xarelto Anticoagulant Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-07229-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana.