Pradaxa Lawsuits Expected to Begin in August

Reuters reported last week that U.S. courts would start to hear cases against Boehringer Ingelheim over its stroke prevention pill Pradaxa (dabigatran) in August.

The manufacturer is facing more than 2,000 lawsuits in the U.S. over claims the drug has caused cases of severe and fatal bleeding. According to Reuters, a handful of bellwether trials will be used as a reference for remaining cases and out-of-court settlements.

The first case will be a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in which several cases are bundled together, which is expected to start on August 11 in East St. Louis, Illinois. However, a representative for Boehringer Ingelheim said the date is subject to change.

Pradaxa was the first to market in a promising new class of medicines designed to replace decades-old blood thinners, which help to prevent strokes in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular heartbeat, common among the elderly, according to Reuters.

Pradaxa has been linked to internal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, bleeding within the kidneys, digestive track ulcers, brain hemorrhaging, and death. Studies done in other countries have shown individuals using Pradaxa have a 33 percent higher risk for fatal health risks as compared to individuals using the blood thinner Warfarin.

Injured By Pradaxa?

Our Pradaxa attorneys will serve you in your fight against negligent manufacturers of dangerous drugs, defective medical devices and consumer products. Contact our experienced attorneys by calling toll-free (888)841-9623 today.

Zoll, Kranz & Borgess, LLC– Defective Medical Drug and Device Lawyers

Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/boehringer-pradaxa-idINL6N0LO1MV20140219