Bayer and J&J settle Xarelto lawsuits in US

Bayer and Johnson & Johnson have agreed to settle more than 25,000 US lawsuits worth more than $775 million alleging that blockbuster blood thinner Xarelto caused unstoppable and sometimes fatal bleeding, the latest in a string of similar legal agreements involving this class of drugs. Developed in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Xarelto is Bayer’s best-selling drug, contributing 3.6 billion euros in revenue to the German company’s pharma business in 2018. J&J markets the drug in the US under an agreement with Bayer, where it brought in sales of $2.47 billion in 2018. The amount will be shared equally between the two companies and as with many such agreements the companies do not admit liability, Reuters reported. The settlement will resolve all pending US lawsuits over Xarelto, claiming it caused uncontrollable and irreversible bleeding leading to severe injuries and even death among thousands of patients.