A new blood thinner lawsuit was recently filed against the pharmaceutical manufacturers of Xarelto alleging that the plaintiffs suffered a dangerous gastrointestinal bleed.

According to the Xarelto lawsuit, the pharmaceutical manufacturer violated consumer protection laws and failed to warn the general pubic and the medical community about dangerous risks associated with taking the blood thinner.

The Xarelto lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Raymond A., and several other plaintiffs against Janssen Research & Development LLC, (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson) and Bayer pharmaceuticals. The plaintiff Raymond is a resident of the state of New York.

According to the blood thinner lawsuit, Raymond began taking Xarelto in December 2012 after he was prescribed the anticoagulant by his doctor. Raymond continued taking the medication until April 2013. On April 26, 2013, Raymond suffered blood thinner side effects, which included a serious gastrointestinal bleed and acute blood loss anemia.

The Xarelto lawsuit alleges that Raymond’s injuries were the result of blood thinner side effects associated with his use of Xarelto. Raymond and the other plaintiffs associated with the lawsuit are seeking compensation for their pain and suffering, medical, hospital, and surgical expenses.

The blood thinning lawsuit alleges claims for strict products liability, fraud and misrepresentation, negligence, breach of warranty, along with several other claims.

What is Xarelto?

Xarelto is a popular blood thinning medication often prescribed by medical professionals to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients. Xarelto was introduced to the US market back in 2011.

It belongs to a new class of blood thinning medications referred to as new oral anticoagulants (NOACs). New oral anticoagulants are often marketed as superior replacements for more traditional blood thinners like warfarin.

Warfarin has been on the market for the last 60 years and has a known antidote for reversing blood thinner side effects such as uncontrolled bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeds. According to the blood thinner lawsuit, Xarelto has been marketed as a superior alternative to warfarin because it does not require blood monitoring and a strict diet.

Xarelto lawsuits claim that the studies that declared Xarelto superior to more traditional blood thinners were not only flawed in design but negligently performed. FDA inspections performed back in 2009 also found the research facility had committed rampant violations in their research procedures. Xarelto manufacturers used these studies to support their assertions that Xarelto was a superior medication.

Furthermore, according to the ROCKET AF study, patients suffered gastrointestinal bleeds more often than patients who used other variations of blood thinners. The FDA noted that data comparing Xarelto and warfarin was insufficient to claim that Xarelto was a superior blood thinner medication.

Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Xarelto lawsuits against Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Successful plaintiffs may receive compensation for their injuries. These lawsuits also help to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their actions and serve as a reminder that companies owe consumers a specific duty of care.

The Xarelto Blood Thinner Lawsuit is Case No. 2:2016-cv-00791 and is part of the Xarelto MDL 2592, in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana.