Eliquis Lawsuit
An Eliquis lawsuit may be an option for patients who took the blood thinner and experienced potentially life-threatening injuries. Lawsuits filed against drug makers Bristol-Myers-Squibb and Pfizer allege that the blood thinner may put patients at risk for severe internal bleeding and other complications associated with use of the drug. Eliquis belongs to a family of anticoagulants that do not have approved reversal agents to stop their blood-thinning effects during a bleeding event. Affected patients and their families may be able to recover compensation with the help of a dangerous drug attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Eliquis lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Have You Seen an Eliquis Lawsuit Commercial?
You may have seen an Eliquis lawsuit commercial on television and wondered whether you or a loved one have been affected by Eliquis and, if so, whether you are eligible to pursue a claim against the drug manufacturer or others. The purpose of this article is to provide you with additional information so that you have a better understanding of your options.
What is Eliquis and How Does It Work?
Eliquis, also known as apixaban, is a prescription anticoagulant that reduces blood clotting and reduces the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Eliquis was developed by Bristol-Myers-Squibb and Pfizer and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Eliquis in 2012. Eliquis may also be prescribed for patients after hip or knee replacement surgery to prevent a type of blood clot called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Eliquis is an oral, reversible and selective active site inhibitor of Factor Xa, an enzyme in the coagulation cascade responsible for blot clot formation. While Eliquis does not directly platelet aggregation, it indirectly inhibits platelet aggregation by decreasing thrombin generation.
(888) 888-0612
Eliquis Approval
Eliquis’ approval was based, in part, on clinical trials known as ARISTOTLE. Lawsuits allege that the drug manufacturers committed fraud in their conduct surrounding the ARISTOTLE study.
Lawsuits specifically allege that Bristol Myers-Squibb and Pfizer:
- concealed side effects that occurred in test users of Eliquis;
- concealed a death which went unreported;
- concealed loss of subjects to follow up;
- concealed major dispensing errors, including those indicating certain subjects were getting Eliquis when they were they were not;
- had poor quality control; and
- changed and falsified records.
Lawsuits further claim that, instead of admitting the major errors and alleged frauds associated with the ARISTOTLE study, the drug manufacturers misleadingly stated that they were submitting “additional data” to the FDA. To this date, the drug makers allegedly have never publically acknowledged the missing and incorrect data to the FDA.
Eliquis Warnings
The FDA has issued two black-box warnings for Eliquis. One warning indicates that prematurely discontinuing the drug for reasons other than pathological bleeding or completion of a course of therapy increases the risk of blood clots. The second box warning is for spinal/epidural hematoma in patients treated with Eliquis who are receiving neuraxial anesthesia or undergoing spinal puncture. These hematomas may result in long-term or permanent paralysis.
Boxed warnings, also called black-box warnings, are the most serious type of warning the FDA requires and may signify that medical studies indicate that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or evening life threatening side effects or adverse events.
Eliquis Bleeding Risks and Side Effects
Common side effects of Eliquis include nausea, easy bruising or minor bleeding events, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bleeding from cuts.
In addition to common side effects associated with the use of Eliquis, the medication is also linked to serious bleeding risks. Symptoms related to serious bleeding events include:
- Unexpected bleeding, or bleeding that lasts a long time, such as unusual bleeding from the gums and menstrual bleeding or vaginal bleeding that is heavier than normal
- Bleeding that is severe or uncontrollable
- Red, pink or brown urine
- Red or black stools
- Coughing up blood or blood clots
- Vomit in blood or vomit resembling coffee grounds
- Unexpected pain, swelling or joint pain
- Headaches, feeling dizzy or weak
Patients who take Eliquis may have a higher risk of bleeding if they take other medications such as aspirin or aspirin-containing products, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, warfarin, medicines containing heparin, selective serotonin uptake inhibitors or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and other medicines used to prevent or treat blood clots.
Other Serious Eliquis Risks
Other dangers and serious bleeding risks related to the use of Eliquis may include:
- Bleeding of the brain
- Hemorrhage
- Kidney bleeding
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Intestinal bleeding and GI bleed
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Possible bleeding during pregnancy
- Blood clot from premature treatment discontinuation
- Death
Side effects of Eliquis have also been reportedly linked to actually increase the risk of stroke, a condition the drug is supposed to prevent. In a study published in the BMJ, researchers found that side effects related to the use of Eliquis may result in a 20 percent increased risk of stroke or embolism when compared to other similar drugs.
Lauren A. on May 16, 2016
Attorney Group reviewed by:"These guys are a pleasure to work with -- very strategic and very responsive, which makes for a great business partner! I can tell that they are passionate about making sure all clients get the attention and expertise they deserve."Rating: 5 ★★★★★
Has There Been an Eliquis Recall?
Although there has not been an Eliquis recall, lawsuits claim that the drug makers failed to disclose known side effects of the drug and that patients suffered damages as a result. Failure to warn of side effects of a drug can be a basis of drug company liability, regardless of whether the drug has been recalled.
Is There an Eliquis Class Action?
To date, there is no Eliquis class action. Eliquis lawsuit attorneys are doubtful that a class action will be certified for patients who are adversely affected by the drug. Instead, as a result of dozens of lawsuits being filed against the drug makers alleging injuries and other damages caused by Eliquis, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) requested consolidation for all Eliquis lawsuits in the federal court system for discovery and other pretrial proceedings.
When cases are consolidated in this way in federal court it is called multidistrict litigation (MDL), and on a state level it is known as a state court consolidated proceeding. MDLs are distinct from class actions, and it is generally agreed that consolidating cases instead of proceeding in a class action is a more efficient and effective way of handling claims arising from injuries caused by pharmaceutical products.
Have There Been Eliquis Settlements?
Some cases settle early in the claims process, but it is not expected that there will be early Eliquis settlements. In most cases that proceed in an MDL or state court consolidated proceedings, after a certain period of time initial trials, also known as bellwether trials, take place. The purpose of these trials is for the parties to get an idea of the types of evidence and arguments that will made, as well as to see how juries will respond to the evidence and arguments. After a certain number of cases have been tried, the parties are in a better position to determine whether a case can be settled.
It is expected that Eliquis settlements will follow this pattern, although the outcome of any case is never guaranteed and past results are not necessarily predictive of future outcomes.
Eliquis Lawsuit Claims
Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, makers of Eliquis, in which plaintiffs claimed that the drug led them to suffer serious injuries, including serious bleeding events, internal bleeding, uncontrollable hemorrhaging, cerebral bleeding, and gastrointestinal bleeding. In some cases, families of patients claimed that their loved ones died as a result of the serious bleeding risks and side effects of Eliquis.
Likewise, Eliquis lawsuits allege that the drug makers negligently manufactured and sold a drug without adequately disclosing its risks for uncontrollable bleeding. Additionally, some lawsuits further allege that the drug makers concealed and changed data about the drug’s side effects when it was presented to the FDA for approval. Due to the increasing popularity of Eliquis, and the potential that the drug’s true risks were not disclosed to patients, Eliquis lawsuit attorneys anticipate many more lawsuits may be filed by victims of the blood thinner.
- April 2017As dozens of lawsuits are filed in federal courts across the U.S., the JPML began moving forward with consolidation of Eliquis lawsuits before a judge in the Southern District of New York for discovery and pretrial proceedings.
- April 2017Wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the drug makers failed to warn consumers and the medical community about the risk of uncontrollable bleeding while taking the medication.
- February 2017Lawsuit filed alleges that the plaintiff suffered from ischemic stroke and experienced a severe gastrointestinal bleeding event, which led to intermittent hospitalization and treatment.
- January 2017In a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Delaware, the plaintiff claims to have suffered from a cerebral bleed after being prescribed Eliquis to reduce the risk of stroke and embolism due to atrial fibrillation.
- August 2016Lawsuit alleges plaintiff suffered from uncontrollable hemorrhaging that required blood transfusions and extensive hospitalization.
- July 2015After a similar wrongful death lawsuit was filed in June 2015, a separate Eliquis lawsuit alleges that plaintiff suffered from an intracranial hemorrhage and that there was “no effective means to treat and stabilize patients who experience uncontrollable bleeding” while taking the drug.
How an Eliquis Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by the fault of others may be eligible to recover money for:
Medical Expenses
Lost Wages
Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
