Tofacitinib (trade name Xeljanz) is one of the few drugs approved to treat multiple kinds of arthritis, as well as ulcerative colitis. Typically, these conditions are not life-threatening. However, they are usually debilitating, at least to an extent. So, when Pfizer’s Xeljanz hit the American market in 2012, like so many other drugs which preceded Tofacitinib, many people almost hailed it as a miracle drug.

Xeljanz is a JAK (Janus Kinase 1 and 3) inhibitor. It blocks certain enzymes which trigger inflammatory reactions. But not all inflammation is unhealthy. In fact, acute inflammation often stops infections and helps injuries heal. As a result, Xeljanz has been linked with some serious and possibly fatal side effects. 

When problems arise, many drug companies will do almost anything to protect their profits and their precious reputations. So, victims need an equally determined attorney from Napoli Shkolnik on their side. Over the years, we have developed proven methods which get results for dangerous drug victims. This approach generates maximum compensation for your serious injuries. Perhaps more importantly, the results we obtain at Napoli Shkolnik force greedy companies to put safety before profits.

The Source of the Problem

Money and time are perhaps two of the most important resources in the business world. The consumer drug approval and sales process affect both these resources in some ways many people do not expect.

The United States has one of the most rigorous drug approval processes in the world. The process is also costly. According to one study, drug companies spend as much as $2.6 billion during the development and approval process. So, these companies must sell lots of pills to recoup these costs and show a healthy profit that shareholders demand.

To keep sales as brisk as possible, these companies often hide negative information about their products. True, drug advertisements usually contain a laundry list of potential side effects. But the advertised effects are typically little more than nuisances. These companies often bury information about Deep Vein Thrombosis and other serious side effects.

Drug companies do not have very much time to make as much money as possible. Typically, the drug exclusivity period is five years from the approval date. After that, cheaper generics become available. Once that happens, name-brand drug prescriptions usually decline and often plummet.

The short exclusivity period encourages drug companies to keep secrets. Executives often think “If we can just keep these serious side effects quiet for a few months, we will be okay.” As a result, patients do not know about such side effects until it is too late for many of them.

Xeljanz Side Effects

Pulmonary Embolism

PE is a blood clot which blocks the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. PE is almost immediately life-threatening. Some PE risk factors include obesity, smoking, inactivity, heart disease, and cancer. This condition is also called a lung embolism or pulmonary thrombosis.

Ingesting Xeljanz accentuates these risk factors. Since it blocks inflammation, Xeljanz also blocks the body’s natural responses to migrating blood clots. If tissues cannot inflame, they cannot localize clots in certain parts of the body. Instead, they can roam almost anywhere, including near the heart, lungs, or other vital organs.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

DVT is a blood clot which develops deep in the body, usually in the legs or another extremity. If symptoms appear, such as cramping, foot pain, or skin color and temperature changes, a combination of exercise and a medical device, like a compression sock, often solves the problem.

But about half of DVT patients experience no symptoms whatsoever. They have no idea they have a blood clot, unless they develop PE or a doctor happens to stumble upon the blood clot. As a result, these patients usually need risky emergency surgery.

DVT and PE have similar causes and risk factors. Furthermore, Tofacitinib magnifies these causes and risk factors in much the same way.

Your Claim for Damages

Dangerous drug claims are procedurally complex. Since they are mass torts which could affect thousands of victims, courts usually refer all claims to a central location. Multidistrict Litigation consolidates claims for pretrial purposes. 

We routinely handle huge dangerous drug matters, like the opioid crisis. In fact, our experience in this area goes all the way back to the 1990s.

Additionally, MDL eventually benefits victim/plaintiffs. If one claim settles, the settlement creates momentum for other actions. Moreover, MDL judges usually appoint special masters who have expertise in a given area. So, they are familiar with the technical arguments that our skilled attorneys rely on.

The bottom line is that, when you partner with Napoli Shkolnik, you get all the benefits that MDL offers without any of the drawbacks.

Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR (Extended Release) have been linked to potentially fatal side effects. For a free consultation with an experienced dangerous drug lawyer, contact Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC. You have a limited amount of time to act.

Related Articles

Hit by an Uber? Who do you sue?

April 17, 2024

The short answer to this question is, if you were hit by an Uber, you sue Uber because of the respondeat superior rule. The long answer to this...

Read the Article

AFFF MDL Co-Leads Secure $750 Million Settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP in AFFF MDL

April 12, 2024

In a monumental stride towards addressing the nation’s PFAS water contamination crisis, Paul Napoli, along with the co-leads of the AFFF Multi-District Litigation, have achieved a groundbreaking $750...

Read the Article

Are AI’s Impacts on the Legal Profession Exciting or Scary?

April 11, 2024

When AI innovator OpenAI released ChatGPT in November of 2022, it sent shockwaves through the world, from tech leaders to academia. Quickly, stories surfaced of people using ChatGPT to “cheat,”...

Read the Article