In May 2014, German drug manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals agreed to settle 4,000 state and federal lawsuits filed by patients who had suffered uncontrollable bleeding or lost family members due to the anticoagulant Pradaxa (Dabigatran). This year, at least four new class-action lawsuits have been filed by victims of Pradaxa.
According to USA Today, Pradaxa was originally approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2010. By the end of 2011, thousands of patients who were taking the drug had suffered injuries, and at least 500 had died. Pradaxa has the potential to cause life-threatening, uncontrolled bleeding in the brain, rectum and intestines. Until recently, there was no way to reverse the hemorrhaging. Plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits against Boehringer Ingelheim claim that the manufacturer did not provide adequate warnings about the potential for gastrointestinal bleeding, or disclose the fact that if a bleeding event occurred there was no way to reverse it. If you suffered an injury or lost a family member due to Pradaxa, turn to Ed Bernstein & Associates. Our attorneys will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit. Call 702-240-0000 today to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas.
Plaintiffs Claim Pradaxa’s Original Label Lacked Vital Warnings
Patients who were prescribed Pradaxa have accused Boehringer Ingelheim of using misleading marketing tactics. Some plaintiffs have asserted that the drug manufacturer advertised Pradaxa as a more convenient and safer alternative to Warafin, claiming that it was not as restrictive on patients’ diets and required fewer doctor checkups. However, Pradaxa victims have argued that the drug’s original label should have warned elder patients about the high risk of bleeding. The label also lacked dosage requirements according to the patient’s weight.
New Reversal Agent Offers Hope to Pradaxa Victims
After the FDA approved Pradaxa in 2010, doctors handed out millions of prescriptions for the “new, safer and better” alternative to Warafin. Sadly, thousands of unsuspecting patients endured life-threatening side effects, and hundreds died due to uncontrollable bleeding events. Fortunately, a new reversal agent, Praxbind, is offering hope to patients who are taking Pradaxa and need to undergo emergency surgery or stop life-threatening bleeding. In one study, Praxbind reversed the effects of Dabigatran in 89 percent of the participants within the first four hours of receiving the treatment. However, 26 of the 123 patients still died. Praxbind is a potentially life-saving option for patients who have suffered the adverse effects of Pradaxa. Unfortunately, this cure has arrived too late for victims who have already died or endured the trauma of uncontrollable bleeding. If you suffered an injury or lost a family member who was taking Pradaxa, contact Ed Bernstein & Associates. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. If your loved one died while taking Pradaxa, our legal team will help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. Call 702-240-0000 to schedule a free consultation with an injury lawyer in Las Vegas.