Mother, Son Sue Boehringer Over Pradaxa Internal Bleeding

Mother, Son Sue Boehringer Over Pradaxa Internal Bleeding

By Amanda Antell

John Billhuber and his mother, Gloria Billhuber, are suing Boehringer Ingelheim for the devastating injuries his father, Henry Billhuber, allegedly suffered after taking the blood-thinning medication Pradaxa. The plaintiffs allege that his father suffered uncontrollable gastrointestinal internal bleeding which almost resulted in his death as a consequence of taking the medication.

Billhuber was initially prescribed Pradaxa in February 2012 for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, with the medication being used without complication for almost a year. However, on Jan. 18, 2013, Billhuber suffered a gastrointestinal hemorrhage and had to be hospitalized for six days. He was diagnosed with uncontrollable internal bleeding, which was worsened due to his prolonged use of Pradaxa.

At the time of his prescription, Billhuber and his physicians were following the information and prescription instructions given to them from the drug’s warning label. At no point in time was Billhuber or his physicians were aware of these side effects until after his attack, nor were these side effects mentioned at any point on the drug’s warning label. Additionally, Boehringer made no effort to notify the plaintiff or his family or this possible occurrence. Had the Billhuber known of this side effect, he never would have opted for the medication.

So for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug, Billhuber and his family are suing Boehringer Ingelheim. The charges include: negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Overview of Pradaxa Complications

Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) is a powerful anticoagulant that was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Oct. 19, 2010. It is only the second drug in the pharmaceutical history of the United States, to be approved to be used for the purpose it was designed for, with its predecessor being Warfarin. It was approved to prevent stroke and systemic embolism for patients who have non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The drug is manufactured and marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim, and is one of the most popular drugs in the United States, reaching $1 billion in sales in Boehringer’s 2011 fiscal year.

While Pradaxa is widely perceived as a success by the pharmaceutical world and the general public, it was not long after its release that Pradaxa was facing problems. Boehringer had initially boasted that Pradaxa was more efficient than Warfarin based on their preclinical trials, but now the defendant company is pulling back from its initial bragging. After Pradaxa was released, it was soon discovered that while Pradaxa worked well as a blood-thinner, it worked too well. This drug was causing the body to suffer from uncontrollable internal bleeding, which could be fatal if left untreated.

Currently, Boehringer Ingelheim is trying to manufacture a remedy for this defect, but there is current no reversal agent available to Pradaxa’s side effects. In 2011, there were 3,781 Pradaxa injury reports, and 542 death reports, submitted to the FDA. This ignited a formal investigation into Pradaxa in December 2011, with several other research institutes following. In 2012,a study conducted at the University of Pécs in Hungary concluded that patients taking Pradaxa, were three times as likely to suffer from internal bleeding in comparison to other blood-thinners.

Despite all the deaths and injuries reported, the warning label for Pradaxa remains insufficient, indicating only the slight possibility of hemorrhage.

This case is John, Henry, and Gloria Billhuber vs. Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., Case 3:13-cv-60033-DRH-SCW, in the United States District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania.

File a Pradaxa Injury Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Pradaxa internal bleeding injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Pradaxa lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Pradaxa attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.

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