Large drug companies like Janssen Pharmaceuticals spend over $985 billion to develop new drugs, obtain Food and Drug Administration approval, and market these drugs. So, once drugs like the anticoagulant Xarelto hit the shelves, manufacturers must sell as many pills as possible in order to make a profit. As a result, they often suppress negative information, so it will not suppress sales.
The window is small. Market exclusivity usually lasts only five years. At that point, cheaper generic alternatives usually become available, and name-brand drug sales often plummet. Generic equivalents account for about 90 percent of all prescriptions in the United States. Therefore, the pressure to sell as many pills as possible is even greater.
Because of these numbers, drug companies often take safety shortcuts. When that happens, patients suffer. The drug company has a posse of lawyers dedicated to preserving its bottom line. So, victims need an assertive Kansas City personal injury attorney on their side to level the playing field.
The Dangers of Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
Major surgery does not just affect one part of the body. It affects the entire body. Blood flow disruptions often lead to internal blood clots. These clots often create serious physical conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), strokes, and pulmonary embolisms (PE).
Blood thinners like Xarelto greatly reduce clotting and almost eliminate these risks. In other words, a good blood thinner could almost literally be the difference between life and death.
For many years, doctors relied on Warfarin (trade names Jantoven and Coumadin). Given careful monitoring, Warfarin was reasonably effective. Additionally, if the patient experienced uncontrollable bleeding, an antidote was readily available.
Rivaroaxban is much more powerful than Warfarin. Moreover, it is a trouble-free medicine for doctors and patients. Xarelto requires no blood tests or other monitoring.
Unfortunately, there is no drug antidote. If Xarelto causes uncontrollable bleeding, which is one of the most common side-effects, there might be no way to stop it.
There is considerable evidence that Janssen knew about this deficiency. But executives either did not appreciate its significance or ignored the risk so the company could keep selling Xarelto. Either way, the manufacturer is arguably responsible for Rivaroxaban-induced damages.
Other Xarelto side-effects include anaphylactic reactions, severe fatigue, disorientation, and severe abdominal pain.
Compensation Available
These damages normally include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Moreover, since Janssen and its ilk routinely place profits before people, jurors often award substantial punitive damages in these cases. The eye-popping awards in many talcum powder claims are mostly punitive damages. These large damage awards are the only way to grab a large company’s attention and force it to make necessary changes.
Unsafe drugs like Xarelto often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced dangerous drug lawyer in Kansas City, contact the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm. Our law firm has a small-town atmosphere and access to nationwide resources.
