Trasylol: Bayer Faces 78 Lawsuits

Scott Kappes

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According to Reuters the German pharmaceutical giant Bayer is facing 78 lawsuits in the United States involving the anti bleeding drug Trasylol. Last November Bayer suspended marketing of Trasylol after a Canadian trial linked the drug to increased risk of kidney damage and death. Some experts have estimated that Trasylol could be linked to as many as 20,000 deaths. Bayer executive, Werner Wenning, told shareholders “We are not aware of any lawsuit outside of the United States.”

Last month the popular investigative news show 60 Minutes aired a piece on one of the suspected victims of Trasylol, Joseph Randone. The moving piece chronicled the deteriorating life of Randone after he was treated with Trasylol in what is considered to be a relatively routine heart surgery. Randone’s family was told that he would likely be home in less than a week. This would not be the case. A suspected reaction to Trasylol would place Joe in a terrible place that he would never recover from.

Over the next 8 months Randone would undergo 19 operations. Joe Randone's eyes were sewn shut to protect his corneas, and his gall bladder was removed. Because of poor circulation, his legs were amputated.

In August of 2006 Joe Randone passed away. His family has filed one of the 78 lawsuits that Bayer is currently facing