Next-generation blood thinners are marketed as easier to use, more convenient, and even safer than warfarin, the old stand-by. But they carry a risk that is not advertised. They can cause uncontrollable bleeding. Until October, 2015, there was no antidote for these medications. Then, Praxbind (idarucizumab) was approved to reverse the effects of … [Read more...]
Finally, an Antidote for Pradaxa
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the anticoagulant Pradaxa (dabigatran) to help prevent blood clots and stroke in people with atrial fibrillation, on October 19, 2010. Two years later, the drug had been blamed for more than 500 deaths. In May, 2014, the Pradaxa’s maker settled more than 4,000 lawsuits for injuries and deaths caused by … [Read more...]
Pradaxa is Getting More Competition
In a recent post, I discussed the drug Xarelto (chemically known as rivaroxaban) and the competition this product is running to Boehringer-Ingelheim's (BI) flagship product, Pradaxa (dabigatran). The introduction of Xarelto in the U.K., a product produced by Bayer and in the U.S. by our old friends at Johnson and Johnson (J&J), forced BI to cut its … [Read more...]
Pradaxa Problem Unravels
Authored by Ned McWilliams In the first twelve weeks Pradaxa was on the market, more than 300 serious adverse events were reported to the FDA. Within six months of hitting pharmacies and doctors' sample cabinets, the number of adverse events skyrocketed to more than 900, including over 100 deaths. By December 2011, the number of deaths reported in … [Read more...]
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