Dallas Xeljanz Lawsuits Attorneys

Did you experience dangerous complications or side effects after taking the drug Xeljanz? If so, the Dallas Xeljanz attorneys of The Benton Law Firm want to hear from you. You could be owed significant compensation from the drug’s manufacturer for the harm you’ve suffered, and our experienced legal team has the knowledge, skill, and resources to help you recover it.

Tofacitinib is a drug commonly sold by Pfizer Inc. under the brand name Xeljanz that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis (bowel disease). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xeljanz “to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to, or who are intolerant of, methotrexate” in November 2012.

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), however, refused the marketing authorization for Xeljanz six months later, and the FDA issued a warning in February 2019 that a safety clinical trial found an increased risk of blood clots in the lungs and death when RA patients received a 10-mg twice-daily dose of Xeljanz and Xeljanz. In July 2019, the FDA issued a further warning for high-dose Xeljanz.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) often stems from blood clots in arteries going from the heart to the lungs. Such Xeljanz-related complications can very well be fatal.

Dangerous and defective drug claims can be extremely complex and difficult to prove, especially when you have to go up against a huge corporation with unlimited resources. An experienced drug personal injury lawyer has the skills necessary to hold a negligent pharmaceutical industry manufacturer and/or participating healthcare professionals fully accountable.

The Benton Law Firm has won hundreds of cases and has recovered millions of dollars for our clients. We will carefully review your case and discuss your rights when you call (214) 777-7777 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our team has the necessary legal experience to help you build a strong case and help you to receive the compensation you need from a potential drug-related injury.

Do I Need a Xeljanz Lawyer?

Most dangerous and defective drug claims result in product liability lawsuits, which usually allege that a manufacturer or seller of a product defectively designed, defectively manufactured, or failed to warn consumers about proper usage of a product.

A product liability case requires solid evidence, and unlike a layperson, a drug injury attorney is equipped to find the proof that you need to prevail. A manufacturer may deny the claims on the basis that its drug has FDA approval, and any complications may have been the result of other factors.

It is important to understand that any kind of defective drug claim could result in two different kinds of legal avenues. A class-action lawsuit is common in defective drug cases because it allows a large group of similarly affected people to join together in a single legal action. In multidistrict litigation (MDL) also involves a large group of plaintiffs having all cases heard in a single setting but each plaintiff is allowed to retain control of their individual action.

A lawyer can advise which legal avenue will be more beneficial to you personally in terms of obtaining compensation for you and your family. It is also important to have an attorney handle all settlement negotiations on your behalf when the manufacturer, provider, and/or their liability insurance carriers express a willingness to resolve your case out of court.

Why Choose The Benton Law Firm To Handle My Case?

The entire team at The Benton Law Firm makes itself available to its clients around the clock. When you hire our firm, you will quickly find that we are committed to helping you obtain a maximum financial recovery.  The Benton Law Firm handles many drug injury cases throughout the Dallas area.

Founder Jeff Benton clerked for Judge Andrew S. Hanen in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas after receiving his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston. He previously worked for one of the largest commercial litigation firms in Dallas.

Mr. Benton is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas, and Dallas Bar Association.  Among many prestigious distinctions, Jeff Benton was named to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas 2018” by D Magazine and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy Reserve with the rank of Lt. Commander.

The Benton Law Firm handles all cases on a contingency fee basis. In other words, you will not have to pay anything until you receive a financial award.

Types of Xeljanz Lawsuit Cases We Handle

Some of the most common side effects of Xeljanz can include, but are not limited to:

• Hypertension
• Headache
• Increased blood creatine phosphokinase
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Nausea
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Anemia
• Rash
• Gastroenteritis
• Herpes zoster (shingles)
• Diarrhea

In its February 2019 safety announcement, the FDA noted it had not approved the 10 mg twice daily dose of Xeljanz for RA, as this dose was only approved in the dosing regimen for patients with ulcerative colitis. The FDA stated that patients should not stop or change their dosage without first talking to their healthcare professional. They should also seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms of a blood clot in their lungs or other symptoms such as:

• Clammy or bluish-colored skin
• Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain or pain in your back

The EU-based CHMP has stated that it had “major concerns about the overall safety profile of Xeljanz,” including “significant and unresolved concerns about the risk and type of serious infections seen with tofacitinib, which are related to the immunosuppressant action of the medicine.” Such safety concerns included an increased risk of other severe side effects such as certain cancers, gastro-intestinal perforations (holes in the wall of the gut), liver damage and problems with increased lipid (fat) levels in the blood.

In the most recent warning, the FDA further cautioned about the blot clot or death risk for patients with ulcerative colitis taking a 10-mg, twice-daily dose. The FDA added that “the approved use of tofacitinib for ulcerative colitis will be limited to certain patients who are not treated effectively or who experience severe side effects with certain other medicines.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Xeljanz Lawsuits

Drug injury clients understandably have a lot of questions, especially when news breaks about severe side effects. We can answer most of them during a confidential consultation, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at (214) 777-7777 to speak to a knowledgeable member of our team. In the meantime, here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions about Xeljanz.

What should I do if I was prescribed Xeljanz?

You should always speak to your doctor about your concerns and request a safer alternative that still satisfies your treatment options. Your physician may be able to help you find another way to deal with your underlying issue. If not, your next step should be to contact an attorney to discuss your legal options relating to your use of Xeljanz.

What kinds of compensation could I be owed if I suffered some of the side effects mentioned above?

Many dangerous and defective drug cases are ultimately resolved through settlements because insurance companies rarely want to actually go to trial if it can be avoided. For this reason, many settlements are reached while a case is pending and, in some instances, even immediately before a case is set to go to trial. A settlement could provide compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, which includes financial costs and other considerations.

While only a small minority of cases ever reach the courtroom, a drug injury victim who does file a lawsuit and proves their case by a preponderance of the evidence can be awarded various compensatory damages. This could include economic damages for the actual costs of your recovery such as medical expenses and lost income. Noneconomic damages that relate more to emotional or psychological harm for pain and suffering or emotional distress.

How long do I have to file a Xeljanz lawsuit?

Texas allows an injured party a maximum of two years to file a product liability claim. While the limitations period customarily begins on the date that a person used the product in question, an exception can be made when a person did not immediately realize the consequences of using the product, such as is the case with many pharmaceutical drugs.

In such cases, an individual could have two years from the date that they know or should have known about the health issues created by the use of Xeljanz. Keep in mind that many insurance companies will be prepared to try and have these claims thrown out on statutes of limitations issues. Since any exceptions to the legal deadline are highly nuanced, you should contact a lawyer who can protect your rights sooner rather than later and rather than waiting until the last minute.

Xeljanz Lawsuit Statistics 

According to a December 2017 Analysis of Spontaneous Postmarket Case Reports submitted to the FDA Regarding Thromboembolic Adverse Events and Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitors,,the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contained 18 unique cases of pulmonary thrombosis, 36 unique cases of pulmonary embolism, 11 unique cases of portal vein thrombosis, 18 unique cases of deep vein thrombosis, and 43 unique cases of thrombosis for tofacitinib.

It was also reported that FAERS received 42,528 reports of adverse reactions for Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR. Of those, 14,679 reports were serious, while 983 involved deaths.

The most common side effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was upper respiratory tract infection, which occurred in 4 percent of 1,336 patients who had taken 5 mg of the drug twice daily and 4 percent of 1,349 patients who had taken 10 mg twice daily. For patients with ulcerative colitis, the most common side effect was cold-like symptoms, which occurred in 10 percent of 198 patients who had taken 5 mg twice daily and 14 percent of 196 patients who had taken 10 mg twice daily.

Contact a Xeljanz Lawsuit Attorney in Dallas Today

Did you or your loved one suffer an injury or some other complication as the result of using Xeljanz in the Dallas area or elsewhere in Texas? You could be entitled to compensation for all of the harm that you have suffered as a result of the acts or omissions by a drug manufacturer, doctor, or anyone else who played a role in prescribing the medicine to you.

In or out of court, The Benton Law Firm is committed to making sure that you are able to recover every last penny of compensation that you are entitled to. Call (214) 777-7777 or contact us online to receive a free consultation. The drug injury lawyers at The Benton Law Firm have centered their legal careers around helping the victims of misconduct or negligence receive justice.