According to its website, doctors have prescribed Xeljanz for more than 9 years and more than 80 countries have approved Xeljanz to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Patients worldwide also take Xeljanz to treat psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis. While hundreds of thousands of people use Xeljanz to find relief from joint inflammation, reports have surfaced regarding the drug’s dangerous side effects. Lawsuits against Xeljanz manufacturers claim that patients taking the drug have an increased risk of blood clots, cancer, and death. Don’t wait, reach out to the attorneys at The Lake Law Firm to learn more about how a Xeljanz lawsuit can benefit you.
Our law firm is currently handling lawsuits on behalf of individuals who have been injured after being treated with Xeljanz.
In 2012, the FDA approved Xeljanz, manufactured by Pfizer, to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, the FDA expanded Xeljanz’s approval to treat children 2 years and older with active polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adults with active ankylosing spondylitis. It is the first approved JAK inhibitor to treat adults with these conditions. A Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor interferes with JAK pathways from inside the cells. Our body produces proteins known as cytokines to fight infections. People with rheumatoid arthritis produce too many cytokines which result in pain and inflammation. Xeljanz reduces cytokine levels to lower inflammation.
Xeljanz comes in 5mg and 10mg tablets that patients can take twice daily with or without food. Pfizer also released a long-acting form of the drug known as Xeljanz XR.
In February 2019, a safety trial on Xeljanz found a higher incidence of blood clots and death in patients taking a 10 mg twice daily dose of Xeljanz. The FDA originally approved this particular dosage only for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. For patients with RA, the approved dosage is 5 mg twice daily. The European Medicines Agency also issued a warning about exceeding the recommended dose of Xeljanz to treat RA. Following these findings, the FDA required a black box warning added to Xeljanz’s labeling. The warning detailed the increased risk of blood clots and death in ulcerative colitis patients taking 10 mg twice daily.
In February 2021, the FDA issued a follow-up alert based on the preliminary results of its clinical safety trial. In September 2021, the FDA published the results of its completed clinical trial to alert the public of an increased risk of serious heart disease, stroke, and cancer with Xeljanz as compared to other medications to treat arthritis and ulcerative colitis, including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF), commonly known as Humira. The trial also identified an increased risk of death even with the reduced dose of Xeljanz. This conclusion contradicted earlier reports that the most serious side effects were associated only with higher doses. Due to this new information, the FDA required revisions to Xeljanz’s labeling to include these risks. Furthermore, the FDA limited all approved uses to patients who have not responded or cannot tolerate one or more TNF blockers.
Patients taking Xeljanz may experience:
Clinical trials link Xeljanz with serious cardiovascular disease, blood clots, and cancer. In February 2019 and February 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted the public about the increased risks of blood clots and cancer based on the conclusions of clinical trials. In September 2021, the FDA advised Pfizer to include a cancer warning on its medication labels.
While individuals have filed Xeljanz lawsuits nationwide, there is still no multidistrict litigation as of 2022.
If you or a loved one developed health complications after taking Xeljanz, you may recover compensation for any or all of the following:
Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to diligently test their products before putting them on the market. Extensive clinical trials prior to release help to shed light on a drug’s severe side effects. However, lawsuits argue that Pfizer neglected to adequately assess Xeljanz for blood clots, cardiovascular risks, and cancer events. It took years for Xeljanz to receive an up-to-date and accurate warning label that informs doctors and patients of the full extent of the drug’s side effects. Now doctors may reconsider prescribing Xeljanz and consider alternative treatments for their patients. Our team of trusted attorneys is on standby to discuss your potential Xeljanz lawsuit.
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation at (888) 274-0139 or submit an inquiry on this page.
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