Xeljanz Thromboembolic Injury and Fatal Lung Clot Lawsuit Lawyers

Get Compensation With a Xeljanz Lawsuit

The drug Xeljanz, a popular choice for individuals suffering from psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis as well as ulcerative colitis, now sports a warning label from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The label, added in 2019, warns consumers that Xeljanz may increase a person’s risk of developing blood clots. Blood clots that form in or travel to the heart, brain or lungs can all be potentially deadly.

The national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP is investigating potential personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against Pfizer, the maker of Xeljanz. Through our firm’s research and careful review of the FDA’s consumer alerts concerning Xeljanz, our attorneys have discovered that the number of reports of Xeljanz complications is on the rise, suggesting a growing problem with the safety of this class of medications. If you or someone you love has been harmed by this drug, you may have grounds to recover compensation through a Xeljanz thromboembolic injury or fatal lung clot lawsuit. Contact our experienced attorneys today for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights.

The Black-Box Warning: What Health Providers and Patients Must Know

Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR are classified as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and are considered Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. The dosing for Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR is dependent on the type of condition the drugs are used to treat. As such, one dose may be safe to treat one condition, but that same dose may not be safe to treat another condition. Early results from an ongoing trial show that using Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR can be extremely dangerous in patients with rheumatoid arthritis when patients are given a dose of 10 mg twice daily. The drug trial revealed that patients taking the 10 mg twice daily dosage were at a greater risk of suffering from blood clots or death compared to patients taking a 5 mg twice daily dosage or other drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Following the alarming results of the Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR post-market study, the FDA required the manufacturer of the drugs to add a black-box warning on the drug label. Black-box warnings are only required when a drug has the potential to cause serious injuries or death.

The warning includes the following language:

• “MORTALITY: Rheumatoid arthritis patients 50 years of age and older with at least one cardiovascular (CV) risk factor treated with Xeljanz 10 mg twice a day had a higher rate of all-cause mortality, including sudden CV death, compared to those treated with Xeljanz 5 mg given twice daily or TNF blockers.”
• “THROMBOSIS: Thrombosis, including pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, and arterial thrombosis, has been observed at an increased incidence in rheumatoid arthritis patients who were 50 years of age and older with at least one CV risk factor treated with Xeljanz 10 mg twice daily compared to Xeljanz 5 mg twice daily or TNF blockers.”
• “For patients with ulcerative colitis, use Xeljanz at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration needed to achieve/maintain therapeutic response.”

The FDA recommends that patients who are at high risk for suffering thrombosis (blood clots) do not take Xeljanz XR or Xeljanz. Risks associated with taking these drugs are potentially very dangerous, and the FDA recommends that they be used in very limited circumstances and for the shortest amount of time possible, regardless of what condition is being treated. Health Canada has issued similar guidance.

Unanswered Questions About Xeljanz’s Approval

Although Xeljanz is being prescribed to patients presently and has been used by doctors for years, the drug’s dangers are only now coming to light. It’s unclear why this is so. Some have pointed the finger at the FDA, claiming that the agency’s process for approving new drugs is inadequate and ineffective for uncovering the hidden dangers of drugs like Xeljanz. In the case of Xeljanz, the drug did proceed successfully through the FDA’s approval process without raising alarm about the potential for blood clots.

Reviewing the FDA’s drug approval process and making the requirements for securing approval more stringent may help reduce the incidence of dangerous side effects from drugs like Xeljanz, as can patients taking a more active role in their own health care by asking their doctors about new drugs they are being prescribed and requesting alternative medications when a drug has not been on the market for long.

Do You Need a Prescription for Xeljanz?

Yes. Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a prescription medication that is classified as a JAK inhibitor. Xeljanz is prescribed to treat patients suffering from the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Xeljanz works by hindering overactive Janus kinase proteins within the patient’s body, which reduces symptoms such as inflammation and pain.

What Company Makes Xeljanz?

The pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer manufactures and sells Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR. Pfizer is a publicly traded company with its headquarters in New York City. Xeljanz maker Pfizer is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world.

According to Investors.com, global sales of Xeljanz grew by 30% to $326 million in 2018. Xeljanz sales in the United States increased by 19% in 2018.

Is There a Generic Form of Xeljanz?

There currently isn’t a generic form of Xeljanz available on the market in the United States. Please be mindful that there may be companies online that may attempt to sell potentially unsafe medications marked as a generic equivalent.

How Much Does Xeljanz Cost per Month?

The exact price can vary depending on the pharmacy, but without insurance, 5 mg tablets of Xeljanz cost around $4,920 for 60 tablets.

How Dangerous Is Xeljanz? Symptoms and Side Effects

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) can cause dangerous and potentially deadly reactions. The FDA urges patients who are experiencing the following symptoms of a blood clot in their lung(s) to seek immediate emergency medical attention:

• Back pain
• Coughing up blood
• Pain in the chest
• Bluish-colored, clammy skin
• Sudden difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Excessive sweating

Other serious Xeljanz side effects may include high blood pressure, liver damage or gastrointestinal bleeding. If you or a loved one are taking Xeljanz, it’s imperative that you speak with your doctor about these potential risks and dangerous side effects.

What Injuries and Complications Have Been Linked to Xeljanz?

The FDA has received numerous reports of thromboembolic injuries linked to patients prescribed Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR. The following are some of the Xeljanz-related injuries, thromboembolic injury events, and fatalities that have been reported:

• Thrombosis: 43 cases associated with Xeljanz, resulting in 19 hospitalizations and two deaths
• Pulmonary thrombosis: 18 cases linked to Xeljanz, resulting in 16 hospitalizations
• Pulmonary embolisms: 36 cases connected to Xeljanz, resulting in 25 hospitalizations and four deaths
• Deep vein thrombosis: 18 cases related to Xeljanz, resulting in 11 hospitalizations and three deaths

Do I Have Grounds to File a Xeljanz Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one has experienced any of these dangerous side effects or if you have lost a loved one due to a thromboembolic event or blood clot brought on by Xeljanz, a lawyer can help you determine whether you have grounds to pursue compensation by filing a legal claim.

At Parker Waichman, our attorneys believe that the victims of injuries caused by this medication deserve justice. If you have been harmed by Xeljanz after being led to believe that it was safe, we may be able to assist you in filing an individual claim or joining a Xeljanz class-action lawsuit. Our firm is at the forefront of product liability litigation, and our attorneys are committed to getting the best results possible for each client.

How Much Is a Xeljanz Claim Worth?

Each case is different because every Xeljanz claim involves a unique set of circumstances, injuries, and damages. The amount you can recover with the help of a talented Xeljanz lawyer will typically include your medical costs, lost wages, and other economic and non-economic damages.

Also, the knowledge and experience of the law firm representing you can have an impact on your final recovery. At Parker Waichman, our attorneys are skilled litigators, and each case handled by our firm is treated individually and with personalized attention and care. Our defective drug litigation team will fight for your legal rights and work hard to win your case for the full amount of monetary compensation possible.

How Do I Start the Xeljanz Injury or Wrongful Death Claims Process?

The process of pursuing justice for you or your loved one’s Xeljanz suffering starts with one short phone call to our office. During your call to our firm, you will speak with a compassionate, caring, and knowledgeable attorney who will review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options. After that, if we can take your case and you choose to retain us, your dedicated attorney will review your case to determine your legal rights and options for a Xeljanz lawsuit.

With Parker Waichman working on your behalf, you can rest assured that your case is being managed by qualified and experienced legal professionals who care deeply about their clients. Each member of the Parker Waichman team takes pride in our work and will keep you well informed during the progress of your case. At our law firm, you are not a file number; you are a person with real loss, pain, and suffering.

Why Do So Many Personal Injury Claimants Choose Us?

At Parker Waichman, our defective drug attorneys understand how you may feel about filing a product liability lawsuit against a large pharmaceutical company such as Pfizer. But our national law firm has decades of experience going up against big corporations to make them pay for their wrongdoings, so your case will be in good hands. Here are some of the reasons our clients have told us that they chose us:

• We Get Results: Our attorneys will fight hard for you to get you the financial compensation that you deserve. In fact, Parker Waichman is one of only a few law firms in the United States to have recovered more than $2 billion in settlements and jury verdicts for personal injury victims.
• No Recovery = No Legal Fees: Parker Waichman provides a free case analysis, and if we are able to take your case, we will represent you on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay nothing unless we win your case. If we successfully win a monetary recovery on your behalf, we collect a portion of your recovery as our fee. This fee is set by state law.
• Experience: Experience is the most valuable skill that an attorney can bring to your injury case. You should choose a law firm that has successfully represented numerous clients in a defective drug case like yours. The defective drug lawyers at Parker Waichman have extensive experience in federal and state courts. Our attorneys’ skills and judgment are second to none.
• Reputation: Choose the law firm that other law firms choose. The legal professionals at Parker Waichman are highly regarded within the legal community and have been recognized by our colleagues, judges, defense lawyers, insurance adjusters, and, most importantly, our former clients. Parker Waichman has been awarded the highest rating, “AV Preeminent,” by Martindale-Hubbell, a company that for more than 100 years has rated attorneys across the United States based on feedback from judges and our peers. We’ve also earned a near-perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 from reviews on Google and recognition in the notable Best Lawyers annual publication.

Parker Waichman has a history of producing near-unprecedented results for our clients and the families of victims throughout the United States. Learn more about our verdicts and settlements and read our client reviews and you’ll soon see that we’re among the top personal injury law firms in the country.

Get a Free Consultation and
Seek Justice Today

If you or a member of your family suffered dangerous complications while taking Xeljanz or if you lost a loved one as a result of their use of Xeljanz, an attorney from our firm can assist you. Contact Parker Waichman today for a free case review with one of our defective drug injury lawyers by using our live chat or by calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529). You’ll be under no obligation, but remember that it’s important not to delay action on your Xeljanz lawsuit, as statutes of limitations will affect the amount of time you have to file your claim.