As we have previously reported, Plavix®, manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb (collectively, “Defendants”), is a blood thinner prescribed to prevent heart attacks, strokes and blood clotting. However, the users of Plavix® have alleged various forms of severe side-effects. Reportedly, these side-effects include: gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebral bleeding, bleeding ulcers, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), heart attack, stroke and death.

Plavix® is the second most commonly prescribed drug on the U.S. market to prevent heart attacks and stroke.  The medication, known as a “clopidogrel,” is a blood thinner that belongs to a category of drugs called antiplatelets.  The drug works to prevent blood clots.

As reported by Bloomberg, the French-based Sanofi received 2.07 billion in sales from Plavix® last year.  In 2008, France’s national health system paid 625 million euros on the drug—the most of any pharmaceutical.  Sanofi was recently fined 40.6 million euros ($52.8 million) by France’s largest competition regulator for anti-competitive actions.  Sanofi had been urging doctors to prescribe Plavix® instead of the cheaper generic versions.  Sanofi urged doctors to write prescriptions that the generic version of Plavix® was ineffective and that the generic could not be substituted.  Additionally, Sanofi was urging pharmacists to use Sanofi’s own generic, rather than one from a competitor.

If you feel you have experienced any side-effects from taking Plavix®, you can contact Stark & Stark and speak to one of the Mass Tort/Pharmaceutical Litigation attorneys, free of charge, who can help assess any claims that you might have against the Plavix® manufacturers.