Parker Waichman LLP

Xarelto Caused Internal Bleeding, Lawsuit Claims

A Kentucky woman has filed suit against Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG in Pennsylvania court, alleging that she suffered severe internal bleeding from the use of the blood-thinner Xarelto (rivaroxaban). Virginia Stuntebeck’s lawsuit says the drug should not be sold because of the high risks surrounding its use, Law360 reports. Stuntebeck alleges that Bayer […]

xarelto-bleeding-lawsuitsA Kentucky woman has filed suit against Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG in Pennsylvania court, alleging that she suffered severe internal bleeding from the use of the blood-thinner Xarelto (rivaroxaban).

Virginia Stuntebeck’s lawsuit says the drug should not be sold because of the high risks surrounding its use, Law360 reports. Stuntebeck alleges that Bayer and Johnson & Johnson were negligent in introducing the drug.  Last month, in Lance v. Wyeth, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that pharmaceutical companies can be held responsible for marketing drugs that are too harmful to be used.

Stuntebeck’s legal complaint says she was hospitalized in February 2013 for severe internal and gastrointestinal bleeding as a result of using Xarelto. “As the manufacturers and distributors of Xarelto, defendants knew or should have known that Xarelto use was associated with irreversible bleeds,” she said. In addition to arguing that Xarelto should never have been sold, the complaint says the drug’s warning label did not properly advise customers about Xarelto’s risks, according to Law360.

An attorney representing Stuntebeck compared the marketing of Xarelto to that of its competitor, Pradaxa, made by Boehringer Ingelheim. Pradaxa (dabigatran) is the subject of more than 2,000 lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation, Law360 reports. “We think there’s some serious issue with the marketing claims, similar to Pradaxa, where they’re claiming that you don’t need to monitor these people,” the attorney said.

These two drugs, along with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Eliquis (apixaban) are competing for the market dominated by the blood-thinner warfarin, which has long been prescribed to prevent strokes in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular heartbeat common especially among the elderly. One of the important selling points for Xarelto is that it does not require the frequent monitoring necessary with warfarin.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xarelto in July 2011 to reduce the risk of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism after knee or hip replacement surgery, and extended the approval to treatment of abnormal heart rhythm in November 2012. But FDA staff raised safety concerns about this use and the FDA has three times refused to further expand Xarelto’s approval to include the treatment of acute coronary syndrome, Law360 reports.

 

 

 

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Great Firm. Had an issue getting into their portal. Josette was very responsive and resolved the issue.
hfd251
5 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Parker Waichman was there for me when I needed them. They came through 100% x 10.. I highly recommend Parker Waichman LLP.
Even Levee
a month ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Parker Waichman handled the case for my dad who had bed sores.The team was very professional.The paralegal Michele Josama who was assigned to the case was an absolute pleasure to deal with.She was always so helpful in every way.Her patience and kindness was outstanding.Michael Zaransky the attorney on the case was very attentive to all our requests and delivered a result that we were very pleased with.Parker Waichman will certainly be recommended to anyone I know that needs legal assistance!!
richard nissenbaum
5 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038