What is Xeljanz?
Xeljanz (Tofacitinib Citrate) is a pain reliever used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
What are the side effects of Xeljanz?
Xeljanz’s main side effect is the increased risk of infection. As a result, patients taking Xeljanz should monitor their blood counts.
Are there lawsuits concerning Xeljanz usage?
In recent years, there has been an influx of lawsuits against Pfizer, alleging that Xeljanz leads to serious side effects such as liver damage, cancer, pulmonary embolisms, and blood clots in various parts of the body. These lawsuits primarily claim that Pfizer defectively designed the drug and neglected to warn doctors and patients about its dangerous side effects, particularly at high doses. Notably, it wasn’t until 2019 that an FDA Black Box Warning was added to disclose the risks of blood clots, and only in 2021 that a link between Xeljanz usage and cancer and cardiovascular events was established.
The basis of these lawsuits extends to four main areas: the defective design of the drug, possible manufacturing defects, Pfizer’s alleged negligence in its duty to create safe medications, and failure to adequately warn healthcare providers and patients of the risks of taking the drug.
As of now, Xeljanz victims are individually suing Pfizer in both state and federal courts across the United States. While there is no consolidated class action or multidistrict litigation (MDL) yet, it’s plausible that these individual cases may eventually be consolidated, given the high number of potential victims. This could expedite the litigation and settlement process. If an MDL does occur, it’s likely to be in New York or Delaware, where Pfizer’s headquarters and incorporation site are respectively located.
Recent studies published in respected medical journals have bolstered the plaintiffs’ claims. One study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events and cancer with Xeljanz compared to other treatment options. Another study found that Xeljanz and similar drugs known as JAK inhibitors inherently carry risks of blood clots and serious adverse cardiovascular events.
Moreover, in September 2021, the FDA required Xeljanz to include a more explicit warning label, highlighting the increased risk of serious conditions like heart attack, cancer, blood clots, and stroke. This came after the agency reviewed recent clinical trials and related studies, which found higher rates of serious heart-related problems, cancer, pulmonary embolism, and fatalities among users of Xeljanz. The FDA clarified that Xeljanz users displayed significantly higher rates of lymphoma and lung cancer compared to a control group.
Xeljaz Lawsuits: Current Outlook
These lawsuits have brought attention to the risks associated with Xeljanz and have opened the path for patients who suffered from pulmonary embolism, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and other types of blood clot injuries to seek justice. Many lawsuits allege that Pfizer failed to conduct adequate safety research and testing before getting approval for Xeljanz. They also argue that Pfizer knew about the higher risk of blood clots and other problems associated with larger doses of Xeljanz but failed to disclose this information.
It’s not yet clear how Pfizer will defend these lawsuits. The number of potential cases is also uncertain and will depend on the number of people who connect their blood clots to Xeljanz. If enough lawsuits are filed, a Xeljanz class action lawsuit may be filed, consolidating all Xeljanz lawsuits in federal court for discovery and bellwether trials under a single judge.
More information about Xeljanz
For more information about Xeljanz, please review these resources
- Xeljanz.com – official website
- FDA Medication Guide for Xeljanz
- Web MD – Xeljanz