Public Mislead About Pradaxa

Pradaxa, a blood-thinning medication which is used to prevent blood clots and accompanying issues such as strokes in patients with heart arrhythmia is being scrutinized for allegedly being dangerous, leading some patients to injuries and death. It’s alleged that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (BIPI), the company that manufactures Pradaxa, utilized their product marketing in a misleading way that led some patients to these injuries. A recent wrongful death lawsuit, which saw the plaintiff win $1.25 million, blamed Pradaxa for the death of 84-year-old Betty Knight, who died of gastrointestinal bleeding while taking Pradaxa.

BIPI had stated that Pradaxa is safe for use without regular monitoring of blood plasma levels, which is generally required and/or recommended by medical professionals when using many other blood thinning agents. Although regular monitoring can be a burden, doctors are able to catch side effects more quickly if regular monitoring is done, usually leading to quick and relatively painless treatment. However, it has been shown that while Pradaxa can be an effective blood-thinner for some, other patients have faced terrible side effects, such as uncontrollable bleeding and even death. This could have been avoided if they’d been monitoring their blood plasma levels. The marketing of Pradaxa as a blood thinner that doesn’t require the annoyance of check-ups to monitor blood plasma levels shows negligence.

The issues continue to be prevalent, as roughly 3,000 Pradaxa cases are pending in the U.S. resulting from problems stemming from taking the drug. Wrongful death lawsuits are included, an example being a ruling from a West Virginia Federal Court. The 3-week trial resulted in BIPI being found liable for fraud in the sale and marketing of Pradaxa. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that BIPI has blatantly falsified facts about their drugs to the public. A recent $13.5 million settlement was reached as a result of BIPI’s off-label marketing and misleading representations in the promotions of four other prescription drugs that they manufacture. The case included attorney generals from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, clearly showing that this negligence is countrywide and a huge issue within the pharmaceutical industry. Because of the recent settlement, BIPI is legally required to ensure that they are not unlawfully marketing their prescription drugs.

Fraudulent behavior by such a large pharmaceutical company cannot and will not be tolerated. The work that they do is supposed to improve the lives of those who use their products, not lead to their injury or death. If you or someone you know has taken or been prescribed Pradaxa, make sure to contact a doctor immediately, and make sure to contact a reputable law firm such as KBA Attorneys to represent you in your fight against this negligent pharmaceutical company. With years of industry experience, we understand what needs to be done for you to be compensated for any injury or dangers you experienced while taking Pradaxa.