A recent lawsuit filed within the multidistrict litigation against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, its parent company Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Pharmaceuticals alleges that a woman died because of Xarelto use.

Plaintiff Max M., Successor-in-Interest, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Estelle M., who had taken Xarelto from approximately July 3, 2012 to Feb. 27, 2014.

The lawsuit states that on approximately Dec. 17, 2013, Estelle suffered from a gastrointestinal bleed and acute blood loss anemia.

On February 27, 2014 “as a direct result of Xarelto,” Estelle suffered a gastrointestinal bleed and, allegations state, ultimately died because of Xarelto on March 27, 2016, according to the Xarelto lawsuit.

What is Xarelto?

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a new generation oral anticoagulant drug that is used to thin the blood of patients who are at risk of stroke and systemic embolism do to their heart rhythm, a condition known as atrial fibrillation.

It is also used to treat deep vein thrombosis, known as DVT, and pulmonary embolism, known as PE, and to prevent these conditions prophylactically in patients undergoing major surgery, such as for hip replacement and knee replacement.

Xarelto was introduced into the U.S. market in July 2011 as a replacement for warfarin (Coumadin), the most commonly used oral anticoagulant medication for the past six decades. The medication works by blocking a protein responsible for clotting blood.

Woman Died Because of Xarelto, Allegations Claim

“Specifically, Plaintiff suffered various injuries, serious physical pain and suffering, medical, hospital and surgical expenses, loss of consortium, and/or death and funeral expenses as a direct result of their use of Xarelto,” the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit states that the clinical trials undertaken to gain FDA approval were flawed. The lawsuit also states that the RECORD studies related to Xarelto approval “disclosed rampant violations” and the agency ultimately said that several studies “were so flawed that they were deemed unreliable.”

With respect to the ROCKET AF study, the lawsuit claims that Xarelto was shown to be non-inferior to warfarin and caused similar risks of major bleeding incidents as compared to the older anticoagulant.

It goes on to state that “however, bleeding from gastrointestinal sites, including upper, lower, and rectal sites, occurred more frequently in the rivaroxaban group.’”

Another huge concern brought forth by the lawsuit is Xarelto’s lack of an antidote to reverse the effects of the drug.

Warfarin has reversal agents to stop the effects of the blood thinner medication and reinstate the body’s natural clotting mechanisms. Fresh frozen plasma and intravenous vitamin K are used to reverse the effects of warfarin.

Xarelto has no such antidote.

The Xarelto lawsuit reads as a number of claims against the Defendants including strict liability, manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, violation of consumer protection laws and survival action tied to the allegation that Estelle died because of Xarelto.

The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and other noneconomic damages, award of economic damages, punitive and/or exemplary damages, pre-and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and any additional relief as deemed just and proper by the Court.

The Xarelto Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-15091 and is filed in the Xarelto MDL In re: Xarelto (rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 2592, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Filing a Xarelto Lawsuit

If you believe a loved one died because of Xarelto use, you may be able to file a lawsuit on your loved one’s behalf for personal injuries sustained by the use of the pharmaceutical drug. A Xarelto attorney can review your case at no charge and can help you understand the legal options that are available to you.