Pradaxa Settlement Resolves 4,000 Claims Against Manufacturer

Benton, Illinois—A settlement reached with Boehringer Ingelheim, the German company that manufactures Pradaxa, will settle approximately 4,000 state and federal lawsuits for $650 million. The settlement averages $162,500 per claimaint.

The lawsuits alleged that use of Pradaxa could cause serious bleeding events, sometimes resulting in death. In fact, the FDA reports that in 2011 alone more than 540 patients lost their lives after using Pradaxa. This surpassed all other monitored drugs for the year.

Pradaxa, an anti-coagulant used as an alternative to Coumadin, was approved for sale in the United States in 2010. By 2012, sales of Pradaxa hit $1.5 billion. Early clinical trials revealed the bleeding risks, but more recent analysis prompted increased concern among researchers and the FDA.

Federal lawsuits filed by Pradaxa users against Boerhringer Ingelheim were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois as part of multidistrict litigation proceedings. Other cases were consolidated in state courts in California, Connecticut, Delaware and Missouri. The Pradaxa settlement encompasses claims in all of these courts.

The law limits the amount of time a person has to bring a claim for injuries resulting from a defective drug. If you or a loved one has been harmed by Pradaxa, you should contact an attorney immediately to ensure compliance with any deadlines.