Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), with a new Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit files by New York man. The new Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit alleged serious internal bleeding complications, similar to the other claims made in the steadily increasing MDL.

New York plaintiff Henry K. filed this Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit after reportedly suffering a number of potentially fatal internal bleeding complications. Henry had reportedly began taking Xarelto on Dec. 12, 2015 and had suffered several serious injuries in just two days of taking the medication.

According to his Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit, Henry experienced gastrointestinal bleeding, rectal bleeding, and hematochezia.

Overview of Xarelto Bleeding Complications

Xarelto is a new generation anticoagulant, or blood thinner, which was released as a joint effort between Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson. This drug was approved by the FDA in 2011, which is a year after the release of Pradaxa, another anticoagulant, in 2010. This is important to note, because Pradaxa was the first drug to be released for blood thinner purposes since warfarin in the 1950s.

Similar to its predecessor, Xarelto was supposed to directly compete with other anticoagulants on the market, and it quickly took off in popularity. Both Pradaxa and Xarelto quickly overtook warfarin in popularity because they could be prescribed in single doses, unlike warfarin’s strict prescription adjustment requirements.

However, it has been argued that the lack of dose adjustments cause patients to not check in with their doctors frequently enough. In addition, warfarin has a widely available reversal agent. Xarelto has no such reversal agent available, so a patient who suffers internal bleeding while on Xarelto may need to be hospitalized to prevent the internal bleeds from becoming fatal.

Xarelto and other anticoagulants work by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism, to increase the body’s blood flow efficiency. However, this also prevents the body from recovering from internal bleeding complications.

Even though uncontrollable internal bleeding incidents were well documented in Pradaxa users before Xarelto was released, Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare still allegedly failed to warn Henry and other patients.

After being hospitalized for his internal bleeding injuries, Henry soon discovered Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare may have known about potentially fatal internal bleeding injuries and opted to file legal action.

During all times relevant, Henry says he had only used Xarelto for typical treatment purposes, and did not deviate outside of its intended use. Henry also reportedly followed his physician’s advice and prescription instructions.

Even with this diligence, Henry still experienced internal bleeding injuries, leading him and others to allege Xarelto is an unreasonably dangerous product. Henry’s Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2592, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries.

Henry states that he never would have opted for Xarelto if had known about the potential uncontrollable internal bleeding. By having his Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit join with the MDL, Henry will save time and legal resources by having it streamlined through the litigation process.

This Xarelto GI Bleed Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-06212-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.