Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb are facing a new Eliquis lawsuit from a woman who allegedly suffered serious internal bleeding injuries from the blood thinner medication.

The woman claims that as a direct result of the Eliquis blood thinner, she suffered injuries like hemorrhagic stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding. Kentucky plaintiff Wilma L. was prescribed Eliquis to prevent the formation of blood clots and the occurrence of stroke.

Eliquis (apixaban) and other blood thinner medications are often prescribed to patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, and are at high risk of suffering stroke. Wilma’s physician had recommended Eliquis after reviewing the product’s advertisements.

Eliquis is the most recent addition in the new generation blood thinner medication family, gaining approval from the FDA in 2012. It quickly became a blockbuster drug after its release, earning the manufacturing companies $281 million in the first quarter of 2014 alone.

The marketing strategy had focused on doctors promoting the drug’s benefits and treatment mechanism, and allegedly minimizing the side effects of Eliquis. This proved to be consequential to Wilma, who soon suffered a number of internal bleeding injuries in alleged result of the blood thinner medication.

The complications listed in her lawsuit include hemorrhagic stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, other severe bleeding, and pain and suffering. According to Wilma’s lawsuit, she and her physician had no prior knowledge of these potential side effects before or during her Eliquis prescription regime.

There were no warnings or indications of the risk of hemorrhagic stroke or gastrointestinal bleeding on the Eliquis warning label, nor were there any hints of the other inflictions Wilma reportedly suffered.

Wilma alleges that Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer knew of the risks associated with their Eliquis blood thinner, but had concealed them from consumers.

Overview of Eliquis Bleeding Complications

Prior to the release of Eliquis, earlier new generation blood thinners Pradaxa and Xarelto were released in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The release of Pradaxa spurred other companies to attempt their own in the anticoagulant market, to which the only drug available beforehand had been Warfarin. Warfarin was approved in the 1960s, and was used to treat patients who were at risk for developing blood clots and of experiencing stroke.

While Warfarin was efficient at its job, patients had to frequently see their physicians for dose adjustments. In contrast, Eliquis and other comparable blood thinner medications are prescribed in one dose and do not require patients to see their physicians as often.

However, the new generation of blood thinners lacked a key safety feature of Warfarin, a reversal agent in the case of internal bleeding injuries. Warfarin patients who experience such side effects can implement vitamin K, which immediately stops the effects. Patients prescribed Eliquis, Pradaxa or the other new generation blood thinner medications must seek emergency treatment to prevent bleeding death.

Despite the severity of this risk, manufacturing companies allegedly omitted this information on their products’ warning label to maintain market value.

Wilma and numerous other patients who suffered hemorrhagic stroke or gastrointestinal bleeding are now filing legal action against the companies, for failing to warn them against the dangers of their drugs.

This Eliquis lawsuit is Wilma L. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, Case No. 6:2016cv00038, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Kentucky, Southern Division-London Docket.