Trasylol: Bayer Faces 78 Lawsuits

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