Jurors in New Orleans were recently selected for the first Xarelto trial. Xarelto is a blood-thinner that is marketed by Johnson and Johnson. It is a bellwether trial, which means that the outcome of this case will determine how judges may rule in future cases.
Over 18,000 lawsuits involving Xarelto have been filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. All these claims were filed on behalf of people who suffered bleeding or another serious complication due to using Xarelto. The plaintiffs stated that the manufacturers did not provide people with the proper warnings.
The plaintiff in this case is Joseph Boudreaux. He stated that he was hospitalized for a week after taking Xarelto. He had only taken the drug for one month before he suffered gastrointestinal bleeding. Not only did he have to spend a week in the ICU, but he also had to undergo several blood transfusions. Joseph decided to file a lawsuit because he did not want anyone to suffer the way he did.
Background of Xarelto
The United States Food and Drug Administration first approved Xarelto back in October 2011. It was originally prescribed in order to prevent deep vein thrombosis in people who were recovering from knee or hip replacement surgery. It can also be used to prevent blood clots in people who suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Xarelto is one of Bayer’s best-selling products. In fact, Xarelto has brought in over $3.24 billion in sales. It is also one of Johnson and Johnson’s best-selling products. It brought in over $2.29 billion in 2016. However, plaintiffs have stated that both Bayer and Johnson and Johnson have engaged in deceptive marketing practices.
Xaralto has been promoted as being superior to Warfarin, which was the standard blood-thinner for many years. Plaintiffs also pointed out that Xarelto does not have an antidote. However, warfarin-related bleeding can be stopped with vitamin K. However, Vitamin K does not work on patients who are taking Xarelto.
This drug was considered revolutionary when it first hit the market. People liked the fact that this drug did not require physician monitoring and special diets unlike other blood-thinners. However, people did not realize that this drug could potentially caused a number of complications.
Severe bleeding is not the only complication that can result from Xarelto use. This drug has also been shown to increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The Food and Drug Administration defended the use of this drug despite the fact that it does not have an antidote. They insisted that the benefits of this drug outweigh the potential risks of it. However, the agency is now investigating the testing device that was used in order to test the safety of the drug.
There are three other Xarelto cases that are set to go to trial this year. There is another trial that began on May 30. It is taking place in Louisiana. There is another trial that is set to take place in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Mississippi in June. The third trial will take place in July in the U.S. District Court in Northern District of Texas.
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