Pharma Company Insight
Pharmaceuticals
November 2, 2006

Plavix injury lawsuit filed against BMS/sanofi-aventis

The first personal injury lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb and sanofi-aventis as the makers of Plavix ( clopidogrel ) has been filed. Among the allegations are misleading the public and hiding the risks of the popular blood-thinning drug. The lawsuit follows closely behind the announcement by third-party payors that they had filed a class action against the companies, alleging that Plavix causes much higher risks of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, internal bleeding and death than previously reported. The suit further alleges that the company knew this information and had been warned repeatedly by the FDA to stop its misleading advertising and promotional practices. A study published in the NEJM in April ( 2006;354:1706-171 7) , found that although doctors believe the combination of Plavix and aspirin should reduce the risk of a second MI, the combination not only does not help, but it nearly doubles the risk of death, MI or stroke in people with no history of heart disease.