Xeljanz has been marketed and sold to consumers in the United States for nearly a decade, manufactured by the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR are the brand names for the drug tofacitinib. Xeljanz is in a class of drugs called Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors that lower the immune system. It is a popular prescription drug to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. The mechanism of the drug is to inhibit the enzymes that inflame and damage joints, which cause arthritis. It disrupts the pathways of the cells that play a role in the inflammation process of ulcerative colitis. The Food and Drug Administration approved Xeljanz in November 2012 for patient consumption to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis and in 2018 for ulcerative colitis.
Xeljanz has been Linked to Severe Illness and Mortality
Xeljanz is associated with an increased risk for infections, pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis, perforations of the stomach and intestines, cardiovascular events, and liver damage. In addition, Xeljanz is associated with developing cancer, and taking higher doses increases the risk. Medical studies and clinical trials have connected Xeljanz to potentially fatal malignancies, including non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers, lymphoma, lung, breast, gastric, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. Patients taking Xeljanz and experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing blood, swelling, pain, redness in the extremities, jaundice, excessive sweating, weight loss, or fever should immediately seek medical attention.
Black Box Warning Instituted
Following a post-marketing safety study on Xeljanz, the Food and Drug Administration issued safety alerts in 2019 and 2021 warning of potential risks of blood clots, cancer, and cardiovascular problems linked to this drug. They issued a black box warning, the highest safety-related warning that drugs are assigned, to bring the consumer’s attention to the potential consequences.
Claims against Pfizer Incorporated
There are allegations that the Pfizer pharmaceutical company has minimized the risks of Xeljanz on the warning label. They have failed to adequately research the drug before selling it to consumers, provide accurate and adequate warnings about the drug’s adverse events and side effects, or issue a recall of the drug. Countless numbers of people are suffering adverse events and filing claims against Pfizer. These lawsuits will likely be consolidated into a class action and multidistrict litigation in the near future.
Contact a Highly Respected Nationwide Complex Litigation Law Firm
If you or a loved one experienced adverse effects after taking the drug Xeljanz, you may be eligible to file a Xeljanz lawsuit. A Xeljanz lawsuit may help obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. At the Michael Brady Lynch Firm, we know that victims of defective drugs and their families are often left with unanticipated financial instability and emotional pain. Our legal team is passionate about holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable. We are well versed in complex pharmaceutical litigation and have a record of proven results on behalf of our clients.
Call us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation at (888)585-5970. We represent personal injury and pharmaceutical claims for clients throughout the country. The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is a fierce advocate committed to your success.
Sources:
https://www.drugwatch.com/xeljanz/lawsuits