Morgan and Morgan is reporting that a motion has been filed before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) to consolidate all existing Pradaxa lawsuits, as well as any future cases, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois before the Honorable David R. Herndon. Currently, there are at least 21 Pradaxa cases pending in 12 different judicial districts, eight of which were filed in the Southern District of Illinois. According to the Motion, each of these cases makes similar allegations against the drug’s manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, et al., including that they failed to adequately warn patients and doctors that the drug lacks a reversal agent and that such irreversibility could have potentially fatal consequences. Essentially, the creation of an MDL would allow plaintiffs the chance to consolidate their efforts to hold the defendants accountable for the wrongful conduct alleged in these suits and to have their cases resolved more consistently and efficiently.
According to the Motion, the defendants, in their direct-to-consumer advertisements, overstated the efficacy of the drug to prevent stroke and systemic embolism and failed to adequately disclose to patients that
no antidote exists to reverse its anti-clotting effects, which could result in “permanently disabling, life-threatening and fatal consequences.” Furthermore, the Motion states the defendants failed to warn ER doctors, surgeons and other healthcare professionals that there is no effective means to reverse the drug’s anticoagulation effects, and that use of the drug leaves these individuals without an effective way to treat patients suffering from an excessive or uncontrollable bleeding event while taking Pradaxa.
Approved by the FDA in October 2010, Pradaxa was introduced as the first new oral anticoagulant in the United States in more than 50 years. It was touted as an alternative to the decades-old, difficult-to-use drug warfarin, users of which need to follow certain dietary restrictions and regularly monitor their blood levels. The effects of warfarin, however, can be reversed with Vitamin K, while no such antidote exists for Pradaxa. As a result, even
minor trauma in Pradaxa users can result in a life-threatening bleeding event. According to the Motion, the FDA received 932 serious adverse event reports related to Pradaxa, including 120 deaths and more than 500 reports of severe, life-threatening bleeding between October 2010 and March 2011.
If you or a loved one suffered from a brain hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleed or another uncontrollable bleeding event while taking Pradaxa, the attorneys at Morgan and Morgan would like to hear from you. Potentially, you may have legal recourse to file a claim against the manufacturer to seek compensation for medical bills and other damages. To receive a free evaluation of your claim, visit
http://www.pradaxa-injury-lawyers.com/ today.
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Morgan & Morgan is one of the largest plaintiff’s law firms in the country with multiple office locations throughout Florida and the Southeast. The firm handles auto accident cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit Morgan and Morgan online at http://www.forthepeople.com/ for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.
