Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), in which a Georgia woman recently filed her Xarelto gastrointestinal bleed lawsuit. According to the woman’s complaint, she suffered unexpected and potentially fatal internal bleeding complications and had to receive emergency treatment.

Plaintiff Luevenia H. is filing this gastrointestinal bleed lawsuit after discovering there were other patients who allegedly experienced unexpected bleeding complications soon after starting their medications. Luvenia says she had been prescribed Xarelto on Nov. 16, 2014 for typical treatment purposes, and had stayed on the medication through Oct. 31, 2015.

Xarelto and other anticoagulants work by inhibiting the blood’s clotting mechanism, which is meant to improve overall circulation. However, this treatment mechanism also prevents the body from recovering from internal bleeding injuries, which often results in emergency room visits.

At this time, Xarelto does not have an approved bleeding antidote in the case of internal bleeding complications. Even though Xarelto internal bleeding can be potentially dangerous, manufacturers allegedly failed to disclose this information to the public.

Overview of Xarelto Gastrointestinal Bleeding Lawsuit

Xarelto is a popular new generation anticoagulant that was approved by the FDA in 2011, and was released as a joint effort between Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson. This drug was released a year after Pradaxa, the first new generation anticoagulant to enter the market, and soon surpassed its predecessor in popularity.

It is important to note that Pradaxa was the first drug to be approved for anticoagulant purposes since warfarin in the 1960s. Pradaxa and other new generation anticoagulants quickly overtook warfarin in popularity because they could be prescribed in a single daily dose and did not require frequent doctor visits for dose adjustments.

In addition, Xarelto and other new generation anticoagulants initially lacked a reversal agent in the case of internal bleeding complications. While Pradaxa eventually received a reversal agent in the form of Praxbind, Xarelto still lacks an approved antidote.

According to Luevenia’s Xarelto gastrointestinal bleed lawsuit, she had suffered gastrointestinal bleeding on Oct. 31, 2015 and had to be hospitalized. Luevenia had discovered the drug’s alleged link to uncontrollable internal bleeding complications soon after being hospitalized, and soon after that she opted to file legal action.

At no point before or after Luevenia’s prescription did the manufacturers warn her or her physicians of potential internal bleeding injuries, nor were they described on the drug’s warning label. Luevenia is filing this Xarelto gastrointestinal bleed lawsuit against the manufacturers, alleging they either knew or should have known about the drug’s potential complications.

Luevenia’s Xarelto gastrointestinal bleed lawsuit is being filed in MDL No. 2592, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining an MDL, Luevenia will avoid complications like duplicate evidence or conflicting rulings from different judges.

Her Xarelto gastrointestinal bleed lawsuit will also be streamlined through the litigation process, and will most likely see progression at a faster rate.

This Xarelto Gastrointestinal Bleed Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-09024-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.