A married couple has filed a lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, parent company Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Healthcare and their related companies alleging that their popular drug Xarelto caused severe injury to the husband.

Plaintiffs Eugene and Janet F. filed this Xarelto lawsuit after Eugene became injured as an alleged result of using the blood thinning medication.

Specifically, Eugene allegedly suffered Xarelto bleeding caused by the use of the anticoagulant which resulted in his hospitalization.

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is used reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, to treat and reduce the risk of suffering from deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

It is also used as a precautionary measure for patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery so they do not develop deep vein thrombosis.

Eugene began taking Xarelto around December 2014 and stopped taking the medication in December 2015 when he suffered a Xarelto bleeding event.

Following the bleeding complications, Eugene was hospitalized and treated for his Xarelto bleeding which led to severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, suffering, emotional distress and more.

“As a direct and proximate result of the use of the Defendants’ Xarelto, Plaintiff Eugene [F.] suffered serious and dangerous side effects including but not limited to, life-threatening bleeding, and Plaintiffs suffered other severe and personal injuries which are permanent and lasting in nature, physical pain and mental anguish, diminished enjoyment of life, and financial expenses for hospitalization and medical care,” Eugene’s lawsuit states.

As a result of the Xarelto bleeding event, Eugene has incurred a variety of damages, including medical expenses as well as other economic and non-economic damages.

Xarelto Bleeding Complications

The lawsuit states that Xarelto bleeding complications were uncovered when the manufacturers conducted clinical trials on the medication, however this was not highlighted in the information presented to physicians and patients.

Specifically the RECORD study “showed a greater incidence with Xarelto of bleeding leading to decreased hemoglobin levels and transfusion of blood.”

Another study, known as the ROCKET AF, showed that Xarelto was noninferior to warfarin and had a similar risk for major bleeding, however “bleeding from gastrointestinal sites, including upper, lower, and rectal sites, occurred more frequently in the rivaroxaban group, as did bleeding that led to a drop in the hemoglobin level or bleeding that required transfusion.”

A third study, known as the EINSTEIN-PE study, showed similar results of the Rialto being noninferior to warfarin and showed an increased risk of adverse events with Xarelto which caused patients to discontinue use or risk becoming hospitalized.

The lawsuits state that the manufacturers shared all of the positive results of these studies in their promotional materials, “However, Defendants’ promotional materials failed to similarly highlight the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and bleeding that required transfusion, among other serious bleeding concerns.”

Eugene and Janet have brought forth a number of counts against the defendants, including negligence, strict liability for defective product, breach of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Act and punitive damages.

The couple is seeking an award of compensatory damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and other non-economic damages, and award for economic damages for medical expenses, out of pocket expenses, lost earnings and other economic damages, punitive damages set to punish the manufacturers, pre-and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and other relief proper by the Court.

The Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-16768 and is part of 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.