Eliquis is the most recent addition of the new-generation anticoagulants, and has so far been met with positive reception. However, legal experts are still preparing themselves for possible product liability lawsuits alleging bleeding injuries surrounding Eliquis.

Eliquis was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 and is manufactured by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The companies released Eliquis jointly in order to break into the lucrative blood-thinner market.

While Pradaxa and Xarelto are still popular anticoagulant choices, their reputations have been hurt due to allegations of serious internal bleeding events, with some reportedly resulting in death. Despite the negativity now surrounding the idea of new-generation anticoagulants, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers released Eliquis with the ambition of beating out Xarelto’s current dominance over the market, and with the confidence their drug would not have the same problems.

This confidence stems from the fact that Pfizer and Bristol-Myers are working to create a reversal agent in the event of Eliquis internal bleeding, which would effectively clot the blood and save the patient’s life. If they are successful, this reversal agent could potentially be used as a reversal agent for Pradaxa and Xarelto as well, due to their similar pharmaceutical chemistry. This reversal agent is called Andexanet Alfa, and is currently in its phase III trial.

Study Links New Generation Blood Thinners To Internal Bleeding Risks

Despite the effort of creating a reversal agent, many legal experts are still doubtful that Eliquis will fare any better than either Xarelto and Pradaxa. Scientists are skeptical as well, as studies indicate that Eliquis may be no safer than its predecessors. In a recent study, researchers from Hungary performed a seven-study meta-analysis that was meant to evaluate the safety of new-generation anticoagulants. This study included over 31,000 patients that had been hospitalized between 2000 and 2011. These patients were compared to patients who had received anti-platelet therapy and placebos.

The results of the study showed that patients who were taking these new-generation anticoagulants, like Eliquis, faced a significantly increased risk of internal bleeding events.

Overview of Eliquis Bleeding Complications

As mentioned before, Eliquis was approved in 2012 to join the blood-thinner market and to be the newest member of the new-generation anticoagulants. These drugs are known for being the successors of the original anticoagulant, Warfarin, which had been the primary blood-thinner for generations. Both Warfarin and the new-generation anticoagulants are most commonly prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation in patients who are at high risk for stroke, and to prevent general blood-clotting. Ideally, each of these drugs would encourage patients to live a healthier lifestyle, and would prolong their lives.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case for many patients who reportedly had to receive emergency intervention for their bleeding injuries. Pradaxa, Xarelto, and Eliquis have been aggressively promoted to be superior to Warfarin, with faster treatment mechanisms and having no requirements for dose adjustments. Many experts have criticized these characteristics, because if injured patients had frequently seen their physicians, then injury most likely would have been avoided. Warfarin requires frequent dose adjustment and doctor visits and patients can use vitamin K as a reversal agent.

The lack of reversal agent has been the primary factor leading anticoagulant product liability lawsuits, with experts expecting Eliquis to follow a similar path.