Were you prescribed Xeljanz for your rheumatoid arthritis? Did you develop blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, or deep vein thrombosis as a result? Did you develop cancer or experience a major cardiac event after taking Xeljanz? If so, you may be eligible for compensation for your Xeljanz-related illness. Contact Mass Tort Alliance to learn more.
The Xeljanz lawsuit alleges that patients who used the medication Xeljanz, often prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, later contracted cancer, developed blood clot issues including pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis, and experienced heart attacks and strokes. The lawsuits claim that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Xeljanz, failed to disclose the dangers of using this drug to the public.
At Mass Tort Alliance, we help clients who took Xeljanz and later suffered serious health consequences connect with qualified and experienced attorneys in their area who focus on your specific case type and can help you seek the compensation that you are entitled to. Our attorneys have the skills, resources, and determination to take on big pharmaceutical companies who have created defective drugs that harm people. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to help you get justice and recoup financial losses you suffered because you used this dangerous drug without being warned of its possible consequences.
The National Law Review published a report in 2019 detailing a wave of lawsuits against Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug Xeljanz, claiming that the drug, which suppresses a patient’s immune system, caused some patients to suffer serious health conditions, including an increased risk of pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis (also known as DVT).
That same year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released early results from clinical trials of Xeljanz that connected the use of Xeljanz with a heightened risk of blood clotting issues. Although Pfizer had received reports of DVTs and pulmonary embolisms resulting from Xeljanz use between 2013 and 2018, Pfizer claimed it had found no similar results in its own studies of the drug.
In the wake of the FDA’s own findings, the FDA mandated that Pfizer add a black box warning label to Xeljanz product packaging to let patients and prescribers know about the risks of using Xeljanz, including an increased risk of blood clots and death for patients who take two ten-mg doses per day. The label was added in July 2019. Prior to the black box warning, Pfizer never disclosed the risks of blood clots.
Almost two years later, in February of 2021, the FDA released a report that detailed how Xeljanz was also associated with severe cardiac issues and cancer. According to their reporting, both of the typically prescribed five mg and ten mg doses of Xeljanz put patients at an increased risk of these injuries.
Soon thereafter, Pzifer also added an increased risk of sudden cardiovascular-related death to the black box labeling. As part of the warning, Pfizer specified that patients with rheumatoid arthritis aged 50 and above were more prone to experience sudden cardiovascular-related death after taking two ten-mg doses of Xeljanz per day.
The use of Xeljanz has been directly linked to severe negative side effects. Following are more details about which specific side effects have been reported.
In 2021, after conducting safety trials on Xeljanz, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication warning stating that there was a direct link between the use of Xeljanz and a heightened risk of developing various forms of cancer, including:
The FDA also conducted drug safety trials to determine if using Xeljanz caused an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events. In February 2021, along with their warning about an increased risk of cancer, the FDA also released a Drug Safety Communication warning that reaffirmed the drug’s ability to cause severe cardiovascular events, including:
The FDA further confirmed that using Xeljanz could cause an increased risk of developing blood clots. The two main kinds of blood clots caused by the use of Xeljanz were pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis.
A staggering 79 pulmonary embolisms and 52 cases of deep vein thrombosis were reported to the FDA by patients who had taken Xeljanz. Of the patients who reported these injuries, 15 perished. It is possible that there may be more cases than those that were reported to the FDA thus far.
Pulmonary embolisms are a type of blood clot that travels to the lungs. Symptoms can include chest pain, irregular heartbeat, sudden shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, anxiety, coughing up blood, and more. Pulmonary embolisms are medical emergencies and require emergency medical care.
Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms deep inside one of the veins in your body, hence the name. DVTs often occur in the lower legs or thighs but also have the potential to develop in other areas of the body. This type of clot, like pulmonary embolisms, is often life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.
Other types of blood clot-related health conditions that have been reported due to the use of Xeljanz include:
The treatment for blood clots varies but often includes medication, compression stockings, and surgery. It is possible that those who suffer blood clots may have to take medication regularly for the remainder of their lives in order to prevent blood clots from forming again.
If you have suffered from an injury or illness after using Xeljanz to treat rheumatoid arthritis or another health condition, then you could be entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation you might be able to receive for your injury or illness will be dependent upon the severity of your condition and the physical, financial, and emotional damages caused by your use of the defective product.
Our lawyers will conduct a comprehensive review of the various types of damages you might be able to recover compensation for. Depending upon our findings, you could be entitled to recoup money for any or all of the following types of damages:
Economic Damages, which include:
Non-economic Damages, which include:
Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are less frequently awarded than other types, but they are designed to “punish” the defendant for excessively careless behavior. In this case, because Pfizer knew and failed to disclose that using Xeljanz was dangerous to patient health, a judge could determine that punitive damages are appropriate.
Patients who are injured through the use of defective drugs are typically able to bring a lawsuit against the negligent party in most states. A lawsuit against the manufacturer could be based upon any of the following:
Every state has its own statute of limitations on product liability cases, which means that you only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit against Pfizer if you’ve been injured by their defective product. We will match you with a knowledgeable lawyer who can advise you on the laws in your state and ensure that you file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, developed blood clot issues, or suffered a cardiac event after using Xeljanz, then you could be eligible to file a lawsuit for compensation against the manufacturer of the defective drug, Pfizer. A lawsuit of this type could help you recover financial losses you suffered because you used the drug.
At Mass Tort Alliance, we match clients with skilled and experienced attorneys across the country. Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to take on powerful pharmaceutical companies who failed to disclose the dangers of using their products to the general public. Our attorneys will review your case and help you determine what your legal options are.
Contact Mass Tort Alliance today for a consultation about your situation.