In an October 2018, trial in West Virginia, a federal jury found that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. was not forthright about the risk of potential bleeding injuries with its drug, Pradaxa (Dabigatran). The jury awarded the plaintiff $250,000 for medical expenses and pain and suffering, as well as $1 million in punitive damages. This was the first trial win for plaintiffs, after the manufacturer had succeeded at three prior trials. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has appealed the verdict.
Currently, there are several trials scheduled in 2019. Trials are scheduled in the California in February, March and April. The fourth Connecticut case is scheduled to begin in or around April 22, 2019, while another trial is set in St. Louis state court during summer 2019. All trial dates are tentative and may be subject to change. There are approximately 3,000 cases filed throughout the U.S., with about 2,600 of those cases pending in the consolidated litigation in Connecticut state court.
Pradaxa (Dabigatran), a blood thinner (anticoagulant) prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in certain individuals, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010. Shortly after entering the market, reports of excessive bleeding, and death in some cases, began to emerge. An antidote to Pradaxa, Praxbind, was not approved until 2015.
If you or a loved one have suffered from excessive bleeding injuries after taking Pradaxa (Dabigatran), you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort/Pharmaceutical Litigation attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any potential claims. Or click here to learn more about our defective drugs practice.