DrugRisk Legal News Update: Judge Schedules First Pradaxa Trials
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 31, 2014 -- The prescription drug safety advocates at DrugRisk.com have added new information for patients taking the blood thinner Pradaxa. A federal judge overseeing lawsuits alleging the drug caused internal bleeding injury or death recently scheduled the first cases for trial*.
DrugRisk is a free consumer resource designed to improve patient safety by sharing the latest recalls, safety alerts, research and litigation news on popular prescription drugs. Visitors can see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
The blood thinner Pradaxa was approved by the FDA in 2010 for treatment in preventing blood clots and strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Experts disagree, however, about whether it increases risks of internal bleeding.
The resource center has added warnings from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices that Pradaxa bleeding may be 5 times as likely to cause death**. A recent study also suggested patients taking blood thinners like Pradaxa may be 55% more likely to suffer internal bleeding***.
The FDA had previously stated Pradaxa is as safe as traditional blood thinner warfarin**** but is now planning a new study of patient data to compare the occurrence rate of internal bleeding and blood clots in atrial fibrillation patients taking Pradaxa and warfarin*****.
Many patients have filed a Pradaxa lawsuit alleging internal bleeding, leading to consolidation of cases in a special federal multidistrict litigation court. The case is formally known as MDL No. 2385, IN RE: Pradaxa Product Liability Litigation, Southern District of Illinois. The latest court records show 2,057 cases filed as of January 15th.
Now, DrugRisk has learned that Judge Herndon, who presides over the litigation, has selected the first four Bellwether cases, or test cases, to start trials on August 11, 2014*.
Anyone affected by internal bleeding after taking Pradaxa is encouraged to visit DrugRisk.com or speak with a lawyer about their legal options. Due to the specialized nature of federal drug injury cases, DrugRisk only recommends lawyers who have already handled Pradaxa lawsuits.
Visit http://www.DrugRisk.com today for more information on the research, side effects and litigation news related to Pradaxa and other drugs, or to speak with a lawyer.
*U.S. District Judge David Herndon, 1/23/14; aboutlawsuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2014-01-23-Pradaxa-CMO-52.pdf
**Institute for Safe Medication Practices, 1/9/13; ismp.org/quarterwatch/pdfs/2012Q2.pdf
***Gastroenterology, July 2013; gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(13)00290-4/fulltext
****FDA, 11/2/12; http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm326580.htm
*****Forbes, 1/3/14; forbes.com/sites/larryhusten/2014/01/03/fda-plans-new-safety-assessment-of-dabigatran-pradaxa/
Chris Schroeder, DrugRisk, http://www.DrugRisk.com, +1 888-415-1859, [email protected]
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