Finanzen reports that the anticoagulant Xarelto has been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare for the treatment and secondary prevention of thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis. Xarelto was already approved in Japan for prevention of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xarelto in 2011 for treatment of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in certain patients. Xarelto is referred to as a new oral anticoagulant, or NOAC, and is marketed by Bayer HealthCare and Janssen Pharmaceutical as a safer, easier alternative to traditional blood thinners like warfarin. But recent evidence suggests Xarelto may not be as advantageous as once thought. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has noted an increasing number of adverse event reports concerning the drug, and a recent study found that Xarelto may be no safer than warfarin in terms of bleeding in elderly patients.
Plaintiffs who have filed Xarelto bleeding lawsuits also point out that Xarelto has no remedy in the event of severe bleeding. This is in contrast to warfarin, which can be counteracted with Vitamin K infusions. Xarelto lawsuits allege that Bayer and Janssen misrepresented the safety of their product, jeopardizing patient health in the interest of sales. Currently, over 1,600 Xarelto bleeding lawsuits are pending in a multidistrict litigation in Louisiana.
Ask your doctor about any health risks your medications may pose. If you or someone close to you suffered from severe bleeding after using Xarelto, contact the lawyers at Lopez McHugh today to receive your free legal consultation. You may qualify for compensation in a Xarelto lawsuit.