Plavix Lawsuit

Plavix Lawsuit Filed Over Heart Attacks and Strokes Suffered by 11 People

Published: November 8th, 2010 • http://www.aboutlawsuits.com


Nearly a dozen people who allege that they suffered a heart attack, stroke or other serious injury as a result of side effects of Plavix, a popular blood thinner, have filed a product liability lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi Aventis, alleging that the drug makers exaggerated claims about the effectiveness of Plavix and failed to adequately warn about the risks associated with the medication.

The Plavix lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court in Illinois by 11 plaintiffs from across the United States, all of whom say that the drug makers failed to warn them of Plavix health risks and falsely promoted the drug as safer and more effective than it actually was. According to a report in The St. Clair Record, the complaint alleges that plaintiffs suffered heart attacks, strokes, bleeding and cardiovascular complications that resulted in physical disfigurements, impairment, pain and suffering.

Plavix (clopidogrel) is a blood thinner that prevents blood platelets from sticking together to form clots. It is prescribed to prevent heart attacks, strokes and blood clotting when drug coated stents are used in patients with arteriosclerosis and in other at-risk patients. It is a blockbuster medication, generating annual sales of over $9 billion for Bristol Myers Squibb Co. and Sanofi-Aventis.

The lawsuit alleges that the Plavix makers promoted the expensive medication as a safer alternative to aspirin, although it may actually provides no benefits over taking aspirin alone and could actually increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, gastrointestinal bleeding, severe ulcers and a rare blood disorder known as TTP, or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpora.

Similar allegations have been raised in other Plavix lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of individuals throughout the country, including several dozen that are pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. In addition, previous reports suggest that there are thousands of other cases that are likely to be filed.

Tags: Aspirin, Blood Thinner, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Heart Attack, Illinois, New Jersey, Plavix, Product Liability, Sanofi-Aventis, Stroke, Supreme Court