EDWARDSVILLE – Several individuals are suing the makers of prescription drug Xarelto alleging they suffered excessive bleeding after taking the drug.
Brian Burce, Deborah Diaby, Robert Taxacher, Lori Williams, et al. filed a complaint on Aug. 1 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Janssen Research & Development, LLC, formerly known as Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC; Janssen Ortho LLC, et al., alleging strict product liability.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege they all suffered bleeding as a result of taking the drug Xarelto. They allege Xarelto is defectively designed, inadequately tested, dangerous to human health and lacked proper warnings as to the dangers associated with its use.
The plaintiffs claim Xarelto was advertised as a safe and effective treatment to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-vulvar atrial fibrillation, but research allegedly showed the product increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and bleeding that required transfusion, among other serious bleeding concerns.
The defendants deny the allegations.
“Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an important anticoagulant used to treat and reduce the risk of life-threatening blood clots. After more than four years on the U.S. market, and more than 3 million patients prescribed in the U.S. to date, the benefit-risk profile of Xarelto remains favorable and consistent with clinical trials," William Foster, spokesman for Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., said in a statement.
“All anticoagulants, or blood thinners, carry the risk of bleeding, and the prescribing information for Xarelto has always warned of these risks. We continuously assess the benefit-risk profile of Xarelto, and the occurrences of bleeding observed since the medicine was approved are generally consistent with those seen in Phase III clinical trials completed across more than 64,000 patients.
"Blood thinners are important and potentially life-saving medicines that should be taken by patients as prescribed and should not be discontinued without a discussion with a physician. We will continue to defend against the claims raised in this litigation.”
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment in a sum of more than $50,000, for costs incurred, attorneys' fees, and for such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper. They are represented by John J. Driscoll, Christopher J. Quinn and Eric D. Jackstadt of The Driscoll Firm, PC in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-1099