WHAT IS XELJANZ (TOFACITINIB)?
Developed and introduced by Pfizer, Xeljanz (tofacitinib) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Since hitting the market Xeljanz has been a massive success for Pfizer; distributed in over 80 countries worldwide and prescribed to almost 200,000 patients in the United States, Xeljanz is responsible for $1.8 billion in sales in 2018 alone.
Xeljanz works by acting as a Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor that disrupts pathways within the cells that causes inflammation, and decreases activity in the immune system that leads to pain and discomfort associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Available by prescription only, Xeljanz is administered orally in 5, 10, 11, and 22 milligram tablet doses; it is also available in an extended-release tablet known as Xeljanx XR.
Despite the popularity of the drug, recent studies have revealed a heightened risk of blood clotting in patients, as well as an increased risk of lymphoma and other serious infections and even death. In fact, the risks were so significant that in 2019 the FDA issued what is known as a Black Box warning, which is the most stringent of all warnings and is limited to drugs or devices that carry the most serious risks of side effects or death.
XELJANZ 2019 FDA BLACK BOX WARNING: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
In July of 2019 the FDA approved and mandated a Black Box warning for Xeljanz after studies found a heightened risk of blood clots and death among patients taking higher doses. In fact, between 2013 and 2018 the FDA received reports of patients taking Xeljanz suffering deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolisms (PE). In addition to the blood clot risks posed by patients taking Xeljanz, the required warnings also alert patients to a host of other issues, including:
- Infections, including fungal infections and tuberculosis, which can be deadly
- Lymphoma
- Skin Cancer
- Diverticulitis and stomach ulcers
- Severe allergic reactions
- Liver Damage
While all of these potential side effects are alarming, off particular concern are the pulmonary embolisms, which occur when blood clots travel through the body and reach the lungs. This can result in chest pains, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, lightheadedness, and rapid or irregular heard beat. Pulmonary embolisms can be life threatening and require immediate medical attention. In fact, of the patients who reported blood clots as a result of using Xeljanz, fifteen died of their injuries.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to your use of the drug Xeljanz developed and sold by Pfizer, call the Xeljanz lawsuit attorneys at Marin and Barrett, Inc. today to discuss your case and obtain a free consultation. Attorneys are standing by 24/7 at 888-348-2735.
If you or a loved one developed an infection, including fungal infections or tuberculosis, lymphoma, skin cancer, diverticulitis, liver damage, deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism, after using Xeljanz you may be entitled to financial compensation. Call the Xeljanz lawyers at Marin and Barrett, Inc. today at
(888) 348-2735. The call and consultation are free and confidential.
CAN A XELJANZ ATTORNEY HELP ME WITH A LEGAL CLAIM AGAINST XELJANZ AND PFIZER IF I HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS?
If you or a loved one developed an infection, including fungal infections or tuberculosis, lymphoma, skin cancer, diverticulitis, liver damage, deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism after taking Xeljanz or Xeljanz XR you may have a claim. You may be entitled to financial compensation for damages, including:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages, if appropriate
In the tragic event that a loved one as died as a result of their use of Xeljanz or Xeljanz XR, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Of course there is no amount of money that can bring them back or fill the void left by their absence, but a claim may cover funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and any past expenses incurred as a result of their illness.
XELJANZ LAWSUITS 2022 UPDATE
Attorneys around the country have starting filing lawsuits against Pfizer related to Xeljanz. The claims include allegations that Xeljanz has a design defect, which is to say that Pfizer negligently designed and produced the drug leaving patients vulnerable to potentially devastating side effects. Another claim is that Pfizer failed to adequately warn the public about the risks and potential side effects of taking Xeljanz and that as a result of this failure to warn patients were unknowingly at risk. At the heart of these claims is the fact that the drug only required a warning as recently as July 2019, despite being on the market and available to the public since 2012. That means that there was a nearly seven-year period of patients taking Xeljanz without being adequately informed of the serious risks associated with the drug.
While the FDA now requires Pfizer to issue warnings to patients taking the medication, Xeljanz is still widely available to patients seeking relief from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. The drug is still the same and so are the risks, and with so much money on the line it is unlikely that Pfizer is going to remove Xeljanz from the market anytime soon. If you or a loved one has become injured or ill using Xeljanz, do not hesitate, call the Xeljanz lawsuit attorneys at Marin and Barrett, Inc. at (888) 348-2735 today, the consultation is confidential and of absolutely no cost to you.
XELJANZ ATTORNEYS
The Pharmaceutical Industry is an international financial powerhouse, spending $1.2 trillion worldwide and $485 billion in the United States alone in 2018. Do not go it alone, let us fight them for you to get the compensation you rightfully deserve. We work hand in hand with some of the most experienced and respected law firms nationwide and have the resources your case needs to stand toe to toe with pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer.
At Marin and Barrett, Inc. we firmly believe that the client’s needs come above all else and have established a fully transparent fee structure to reflect that. We work on a strictly contingency fee basis, meaning that we do not receive anything from you unless we are able to recover money either by settlement or verdict. Regardless of what type of case you have or what is required, you will know everything up front with no surprises. We shoulder the costs of the filing and litigation on your behalf and at no risk to you.
Call our Xeljanz attorneys Marin and Barrett, Inc. today (888) 348-2735 to schedule your free consultation, it only takes a few moments and there is no obligation.
Xeljanz Information Sources:
ATTORNEY MATTHEW MARIN
Admitted in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and South Carolina and Assisting clients as a Rhode Island Xeljanz Lawyer, Connecticut Xeljanz Lawyer, and a Massachusetts Xeljanz Lawyer
ATTORNEY KENSLEY BARETT
Admitted in Rhode Island and Assisting clients as a Rhode Island Xeljanz Lawyer
ATTORNEY NICHOLAS PARRILLO
Admitted in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and Assisting clients as a Rhode Island Xeljanz Lawyer and a Massachusetts Xeljanz Lawyer
XELJANZ DISCLAIMER: Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death.
