Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare face a growing litigation consisting of Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding claims and Xarelto wrongful death allegations.

One of the most recent claims is a Xarelto wrongful death lawsuit from a woman alleging her loved one was not adequately warned against potential Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding.

Plaintiff Therese S. is filing this Xarelto wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of her loved one Adele S., who allegedly died from Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding. According to the Xarelto wrongful death lawsuit, Adele began using the anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation treatment in December 2015.

This is a typical prescription purpose for Xarelto, as it also is highly effective in preventing stroke in high-risk patients. Xarelto and other anticoagulants work by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism, to improve the body’s circulation.

However, this treatment mechanism may induce Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding, which can be fatal without emergency intervention. This was allegedly the case of Adele, who allegedly died from Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding soon after her prescription began.

Therese opted to file legal action on behalf of Adele, after discovering the manufacturers either knew or should have known about potential Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding.

Overview of Xarelto Uncontrolled Bleeding

Xarelto was approved by the FDA in 2011 and is the second in line in the new generation anticoagulant medication class. Released as a joint effort between Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare, Xarelto quickly outpaced its predecessor Pradaxa in popularity.

However, not long after its release, numerous patients began reporting incidents of Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding. According to MedWatch reports filed with the FDA, there were 1,080 Xarelto injury reports and 65 death reports submitted by June 30, 2012.

By the end of the 2012 fiscal year, a total of new 2,081 Xarelto injury reports and 151 deaths were reported to the FDA. In comparison, there were only 56 patient deaths in conjunction with warfarin, which has often been called for comparison in these injury claims.

Before the release of Pradaxa in 2010, warfarin had been the primary choice for patients at risk for blood clot attacks. Released in the 1960s, warfarin remains a reliable choice for patients but requires frequent doctor appointments for dose adjustments. In contrast, Pradaxa and other new generation anticoagulants offer the convenience of single dose prescriptions.

This feature reportedly made Pradaxa significantly more popular than warfarin, but it could also be a contributing factor to the numerous injury reports. Until 2015, there had not been an approved reversal agent for Pradaxa and Xarelto currently does not have one available.

Even though Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding can be potentially fatal for patients, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to warn against the possibility. Therese is filing her Xarelto wrongful death lawsuit in MDL No. 2592, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding.

By joining an MDL, Therese’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid problems like conflicting rulings from different judges. Therese states Adele would not have used the medication if she had been aware of potential Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding.

This Xarelto Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-15126, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.