Ever since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released their findings from an interim analysis of a study on Xeljanz that began in 2012, more and more Xeljanz lawsuits have emerged. These findings revealed that taking a twice-daily 10mg dose of tofacitinib (the active ingredient in Xeljanz) increased your risk of blood clots and death.

While all drugs come with inherent risks, you expect the medical benefits to outweigh the potential risks. Often, that is the case. Most drug manufacturers discover a host of side effects before sending their drug to the FDA for approval. Pfizer (the manufacturer of Xeljanz) did report many side effects of Xeljanz. However, an increased risk of blood clots was not one of them.

The FDA initially approved Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis treatment in 2012, but they did not discover their findings until 2019. In that span, countless individuals experienced adverse reactions while taking Xeljanz. Once these results became public, people naturally came looking for compensation. While many people have filed singular claims, some have come together to file class-action Xeljanz lawsuits.

Class action lawsuits give you more stability and strength in numbers. Going up against large pharmaceutical companies can be a daunting task. However, when in a group and with an experienced Xeljanz lawsuit attorney, you put yourself in a better position to succeed. If you or a loved one suffered from adverse reactions when taking Xeljanz, give Wormington & Bollinger a call today.

The Difference Between an Individual Lawsuit and a Class-Action Lawsuit

As you can assume, an individual lawsuit involves one person (a plaintiff) filing a claim or a lawsuit against another party (the defendant). In these cases, a single person receives all of the compensation, which can amount to quite a bit of money.

In a class-action lawsuit, a group of people (a class of plaintiffs) sue a party (the defendant) for injuries caused by their negligence, recklessness, or inaction. Typically, in these lawsuits, one or more plaintiffs (known as the lead plaintiffs) are the ones that file the claim on the group’s behalf.

However, in class-action lawsuits, the plaintiffs all receive compensation. The compensation is split up between the injured parties, who all receive it at the same time and in proportion to the damage they sustained.

When it comes to class-action Xeljanz lawsuits, you will be joining forces with other individuals who suffered from the adverse reactions caused by Xeljanz. Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer have millions of dollars at their disposal, which makes going up against them difficult. In class-action Xeljanz lawsuits, you can rest easy knowing that you are not alone.

Benefits of Class-Action Lawsuits

As we mentioned earlier, a class-action lawsuit involves a group of plaintiffs coming together to go up against one party for injuries that they sustained due to the at-fault defendant’s negligence or recklessness. Often, going up against big pharmaceutical companies can be intimidating. After all, companies like Pfizer have millions of dollars at their disposal to fight back against these claims.

In class-action Xeljanz lawsuits, you can come together with other individuals who have been through similar events to fight for the compensation you deserve. There are several benefits to class-actions lawsuits.

Lower Litigation Costs

The cost of litigation in an individual lawsuit can stack up quickly. Often, many plaintiffs struggle to pay this fee even after they receive their settlement. However, in a class-action lawsuit, the litigation cost will spread across many plaintiffs, making it much easier for everyone to pay for litigation. Many class-action cases function on a contingency fee basis, meaning the plaintiffs do not have to pay unless they win.

Financial Compensation

When you file a claim against an organization (such as Pfizer in Xeljanz lawsuits), you hope to recover damages for the injuries you sustained. In both individual claims and class-action lawsuits, you can recover potential compensation. While the compensation you recover is all yours in an individual case, you have to file early.

If many individuals file multiple claims, those who file first will receive more money. After that, everyone who follows will recover less and less. However, in a class-action lawsuit, everyone comes together, and the compensation is then split between all the plaintiffs, ensuring you receive the proportionate amount you deserve.

These lawsuits ensure that each plaintiff receives some form of compensation.

Improved Efficiency

There are two parts to this benefit. First, it makes life easier for judges. Instead of one or more judges overseeing multiple cases, one judge operates over one courtroom for one class-action claim. Plus, instead of many lawsuits panning out at different rates, they are combined, making the process more streamlined and smoother for the plaintiffs.

Additionally, the class of plaintiffs will appoint one or a few individuals as a lead plaintiff. These leads will file the claim on behalf of the group, working closely with the attorneys during litigation and relaying information back to the group. The lead plaintiff(s) allows the rest of the group to take a more passive approach in litigation. While they are not as hands-on, they still get to recover damages in a win.

It’s for a Worthy Cause

While your claim might not be for much money, a class-action lawsuit presents plaintiffs with an opportunity to be a part of something bigger. While an individual claim might not be worth thousands of dollars in litigation for only a couple hundred dollars, a class-action lawsuit allows you to seek compensation without spending nearly as much, ensuring that all other plaintiffs experience the justice they deserve. It also sets a standard that will hopefully protect countless people in the future.

Filing Class-Action Xeljanz Lawsuits

Many of the class-action Xeljanz lawsuits filed by plaintiffs are in response to the recently uncovered risk of blood clots. For one reason or another, Xeljanz did not know about or failed to warn the FDA, doctors, pharmacies, and patients about these risks.

For most of these class-action Xeljanz lawsuits, they argue that Pfizer:

• Failed to adequately research the drug’s side effects before releasing the drug
• Failed to follow through on previous studies (such as when the Committee of Medicinal Products in Europe declined to approve the drug) to investigate potential risks further
• Did not disclose any reports of blood clots (either pulmonary embolisms or deep vein thrombosis)
• Failed to include accurate warnings for healthcare experts and consumers
• Failed to issue a safety recall of their products

It is the duty of a drug manufacturer to provide accurate warnings about the risk of their drugs. While Pfizer did include some side effects of Xeljanz, they failed to include blood clots, which can be fatal in almost every case.

If you or someone you love sustained injuries due to adverse reactions to Xeljanz, contact Wormington & Bollinger today, and let us help you with your individual or class-action Xeljanz lawsuit.