An Eliquis MDL has been established for federal lawsuits alleging uncontrollable bleeding with the blood thinning drug.

According to court documents, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer are facing 34 Eliquis lawsuits filed in 13 different federal courts. These cases have now been centralized to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The companies are accused of failing to warn about the risk of uncontrollable bleeding with the blood thinner and more cases are expected to be filed.

What is Eliquis?

Eliquis is an anticoagulant, used to reduce the risk of blood clots and subsequent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and other conditions. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that can increase the likelihood of a blood clot.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eliquis in 2012. It was among a new generation of anticoagulants, along with drugs such as Pradaxa and Xarelto.

Common Allegations Raised in Eliquis MDL

The majority of the lawsuits consolidated in the Eliquis MDL allege Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer failed to adequately warn about the risk of Eliquis bleeding. Plaintiffs also contend that the drug makers did not disclose the lack of an antidote to reverse the drug’s blood-thinning effects.

Furthermore, many of the cases claim Eliquis and other new generation anticoagulants were marketed as being superior to warfarin, which has been on the market for decades.

Unlike with warfarin, patients taking Eliquis do not need to undergo regular blood testing or other restrictions. The lawsuits allege that the companies failed to warn about the lack of an antidote, meaning that there is little physicians can do to reverse the drug’s effects if patients suffer uncontrollable bleeding.

Warfarin, on the other hand, can be reversed with vitamin K. Plaintiffs allege that Eliquis makers failed to inform both patients and the medical community about this risk.

Why Is There An Eliquis MDL?

MDLs are established by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML). They are created to streamline the legal process and make complex litigation more efficient. Cases transferred into an MDL all have the same basic allegations.

In the case of the Eliquis MDL, plaintiffs allege Eliquis caused a bleeding injury and drug makers failed to disclose the risks. Consolidating the cases into one federal court eliminates duplicate discovery and conserves court resources.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer requested that the Eliquis MDL be held in New York because that is where headquarters are located. Additionally, half of the personal injury lawsuits have been filed in New York.

“All the actions share common factual questions arising out of allegations that plaintiffs suffered severe bleeding and related injuries as a result of taking Eliquis (apixaban), that defendants did not conduct sufficient testing of the drug, and that defendants’ warnings and instructions as to the alleged risks, including the unavailability of a reversal agent to counteract bleeding, were inadequate,” the JPML ruled. “Issues concerning the design, testing, manufacture, regulatory approval, labeling, and marketing of Eliquis thus are common to all actions.”

Filing an Eliquis Lawsuit

If you or someone you know suffered uncontrollable bleeding related to the use of Eliquis, you may have legal rights. An experienced Eliquis attorney can offer you a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

The Eliquis MDL is In Re: Eliquis (Apixaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2754, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.