Eliquis (Apixaban) is one of the newest anticoagulants on the American drug market, which came after the release of Pradaxa and Xarelto. Each of these drugs have been accused of containing a high risk for uncontrolled internal bleeding, but allegedly failed to warn consumers and prescribers of this possibility on their drug labels. This omission has led to a massive litigation movement against the manufacturers of Pradaxa and Xarelto, with lawyers predicting the same may occur in regards to Eliquis bleeding complications.

Because Eliquis carries the same bleeding risk, lawyers have already started reaching out to potential Eliquis plaintiffs who may have experienced Eliquis bleeding events. These lawyers have reached out to patients who were suffering from atrial fibrillation, or were at a high risk of stroke, and were prescribed Eliquis in order to prevent a blood-clot event. Among the items of consideration was not only the lack of warnings concerning possible Eliquis bleeding risk, but was how the companies advertised and sold the anticoagulant treatment.

Similarly to how Pradaxa and Xarelto rose in popularity, Eliquis was marketed as being overtly superior to Warfarin, the first popular anticoagulant, and was more convenient because it did not require constant dose adjustments. This means that patients do not have to undergo frequent doctor appointments and can follow a constant dosing schedule. However, legal experts state that a single constant dose often does not work for the patients, as different medical conditions require different Eliquis dosing.

Essentially, the only way a patient can accurately determine a safe dose is if different doses are tested. By undergoing frequent dose adjustments, patients are at a much lower risk for Eliquis bleeding injuries, despite what the Eliquis advertisements stated. Lastly, these legal experts state that there is no evidence that shows Eliquis is superior to Warfarin, and that it has no additional benefit because of the bleeding risk and lack of antidote.

At the same time that many lawyers reach out to potential Eliquis bleeding patients, many others are closely watching the ongoing Xarelto litigation. Of the 9,000 Pradaxa lawsuits filed in court, many of these complaints were settled in 2014, leading experts to suspect that Xarelto plaintiffs may also be approached with similar settlement offers. Whether or not that happens, legal experts are sure that the outcome of Xarelto’s litigation will heavily affect the potential Eliquis movement.

Overview of Potential Eliquis Bleeding Consequences

Approved in 2012, Eliquis is the third in the new-generation anticoagulants that were released as additional anticoagulant options for patients, as well as intended to directly compete with Warfarin. For decades, Warfarin had been the only preventative measure for patients who were in danger of stroke, only for its popularity to be hindered by the release of Pradaxa in 2010. Each of the newer anticoagulants were released within a year of each other, each trying to beat out Warfarin and each other. As mentioned before, there are many similarities between Eliquis to Pradaxa and Xarelto, including biological mechanism, pharmaceutical makeup, and bleeding side effects.

However, it is important to note that the manufacturers of Eliquis, Pfizer and Bristol Myers, are attempting to take preventative measures against potential bleeding events. Soon after Eliquis was approved in 2012, Pfizer and Bristol announced that they were participating in the development of a reversal agent called Andexanet Alfa, which would be used to stop any internal bleeding event. Ideally, this remedy would act the same as vitamin K does for Warfarin, preventing a number of emergency hospital visits. As of now, this antidote is on its Phase 3 pre-clinical trial phase and has reportedly produced positive results.

Unfortunately for the drug companies, lawyers and patients are still wary of Eliquis due to the recent litigation movements of Pradaxa and Xarelto. Furthermore, legal experts are preparing themselves for the onslaught of Eliquis lawsuits, despite the promises of a possible reversal agent.