Pradaxa Lawsuits Settle for Millions

The litigation surrounding the well-known drug Pradaxa finally reached a resolution last month when Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the drug’s manufacturer, settled the pending lawsuits for 650 million dollars. Pradaxa, otherwise known as dabigatran, is an anticoagulant that has been on the market since October of 2010. The drug is intended to be used for the prevention of strokes and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation and works by thinning the patient’s blood. It was introduced in 2010 as a competitor to warfarin, a different anticoagulant that is known to cause several undesirable and debilitating side effects. Furthermore, in addition to its numerous side effects, warfarin also typically requires frequent doctor visits and considerable lifestyle and diet changes in those who take it. Pradaxa, on the other hand, was developed to be a safer and more convenient alternative.

By the middle of 2010, nearly four million patients were being prescribed Pradaxa in the United States alone. That same year, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. made $1.5 billion in sales of Pradaxa. Unfortunately, not long after its FDA approval, Pradaxa began to be blamed for the deaths of hundreds of patients taking the medication. The primary complaint was hemorrhaging and uncontrollable bleeding. To date, over four thousand lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. against the pharmaceutical company for complications experienced while taking the medication.

Following the results of a number of investigations-including one by the FDA-Pradaxa was not definitely found to be responsible for these deaths and/or medical complications. Unfortunately, a conclusive result is not likely, because bleeding complications are a risk involved with taking any of the anticoagulants on the market. Nevertheless, on May 28, 2014 Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. decided to settle the thousands of pending lawsuits by agreeing to a $650 million civil settlement. The company’s Head of the Legal Department and General Counsel stated that they stand behind Pradaxa and while they feel the plaintiffs’ claims lacked merit, they decided to settle the cases in lieu of enduring protracted litigation.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the drug Pradaxa, contact The Higgins Firm today. Our experienced litigation attorneys are ready to discuss your legal options with you during a free initial consultation. Don’t delay; you could be entitled to significant financial compensation.