A West Virginia jury returned a $250,000 compensatory verdict along with awarding $1,000,000 more in punitive damages to plaintiffs injured by the blood thinner Pradaxa. Since October 2010, the German drug company Boehringer Ingelheim has sold Pradaxa in the United States. The company claims that the drug has achieved “blockbuster” status. This means it has over $1 billion in yearly sales. Plus, consumers use the drug in more than 70 countries. Unfortunately, reports as early as late 2010 indicated that Pradaxa may have serious health risks.
About Pradaxa
Pradaxa tied for first place as the drug most linked to adverse event reports filed with the FDA in 2011, showing that it ranks among the highest risk of all drug treatments, reported QuarterWatch, a non-profit drug monitoring organization. The next year, the FDA received reports of 7,387 serious, harmful events. This includes 1,158 deaths in the U.S. alone. Among the reports of hemorrhage, acute renal (kidney) failure and stroke, Pradaxa surpassed all other drugs.
Approved by the FDA in October 2010 to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, Pradaxa was the first blood thinner to compete with the longtime standard, warfarin. Warfarin also goes by brand names Coumadin and Jantoven. Just over a year later, research began to emerge linking Pradaxa to serious bleeding risks. The pharmaceutical company did not communicate this risk to doctors or patients.
Many believe that manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim rushed Pradaxa through clinical trials and the FDA approval process. The company did this in order to beat two similar drugs to the market to capture as many consumers as possible. Unfortunately, this ploy worked, and in April, Pradaxa became a “blockbuster” drug, meaning it generated annual sales of $1 billion or more. Boehringer’s negligence caused this drug to reached millions and cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths.
Big Pradaxa Verdict
Michael Brady Lynch, the founder of The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is leading the country in Pradaxa lawsuits. Michael was a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in the Pradaxa Multi-District Litigation and was instrumental in securing the $650 million settlement for those injured by Pradaxa’s uncontrollable bleeding. Mr. Lynch continues to be a leader in Pradaxa litigation nationwide in representing those who continue to suffer uncontrollable bleeding events from Pradaxa.
Attorney Lynch has said, “The U.S. numbers for Pradaxa bleeding events are truly staggering. It is on the verge of a national health disaster.”
If a jury finds the conduct of a drug company in manufacturing and selling the drug to be highly reckless, a jury may award punitive damages to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future. If you had a bleeding event after taking Xarelto or Pradaxa, please speak to us to learn more about your rights.
Holding Boehringer Ingelheim Liable
The facts are simple. Boehringer Ingelheim did not adequately label Pradaxa. The company also misled medical care providers and the public in published studies claiming the drug is safer than alternative drugs on the market. Also, it failed to establish a bleeding treatment protocol along with intentionally concealing the dangers of Pradaxa. All these wrongdoings by Boehringer led to many suffering damaging side effects and even loss of life.
Boehringer may attempt to argue that since an antidote is available now, we shouldn’t make them into a villain. However, this antidote has proven to be too little too late. It has only now become an option. This does not make up for the harm Pradaxa caused prior to its placement on the market. Additionally, for those with severe bleeding injuries, medical professionals choose to not even administer the antidote. This is quite telling in and of itself.
If you or a loved one suffered a bleeding event after taking Pradaxa, contact us today at 877-513-9517.