Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), with a new Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding lawsuit from an Alabama man.

The man’s Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding lawsuit alleges the medication caused him to develop potentially fatal internal bleeding injuries as a result of using the new generation anticoagulant.

Plaintiff William F. was prescribed Xarelto to treat his pulmonary embolism, and had used the medication as according to prescription instructions. According to his Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding lawsuit, he had only been on the medication between April 2, 2016 and April 13, 2016.

At all times relevant, William had only use the medication for its intended purpose and did not deviate from medical advice. However, on April 13, 2016, William had reportedly suffered a number of internal bleeding complications including acute anemia, secondary gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding and melena.

Due to these injuries, William had to undergo numerous blood transfusions and extended hospitalization. William’s physician abruptly ended his Xarelto prescription, and William opted to file the Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies after discovering other patients experienced serious internal bleeding injuries.

Overview of Xarelto Gastrointestinal Bleeding Complications

Xarelto was approved by the FDA in 2011, and was released as a joint effort between Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare to join the exclusive anticoagulant market.

The approval of this medication came just a year after Pradaxa, which was the first medication to be released into the market since warfarin in the 1950s. Because of this, Xarelto and other recently released blood thinners are known as new generation anticoagulants.

Most commonly, Xarelto is prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation and for prevention of stroke along with other blood clot risks. Xarelto and other anticoagulants work by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism.

However, this also prevents the body from recovering from internal bleeding injuries which can potentially result in fatalities. Until recently, warfarin was the only anticoagulant with a readily available reversal agent in case of internal bleeding incidents.

Praxbind was released as Pradaxa’s bleeding antidote in 2015, which was five years after the drug’s release. At this time, Xarelto does not have an established bleeding antidote available for patients in case of internal bleeding.

In addition, Pradaxa was facing intense criticism for internal bleeding problems at the time of Xarelto’s release. Patients allege that Bayer and Johnson & Johnson were well aware of potential problems. Furthermore, William and other patients claim the companies either knew or should have known about the potential Xarelto internal bleeding problems.

William’s Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2592 where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar claims. By joining an MDL, the Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding lawsuit will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid conflicting rulings from different judges and duplicate evidence.

William is seeking compensation for medical costs and is alleging multiple counts of negligence and failure to warn. William states he never would have used Xarelto if he had known the risks of potentially fatal Xarelto internal bleeding incidents.

This Xarelto Gastrointestinal Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-07702-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.