By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi on Thursday, accusing the drugmakers of failing to disclose that Plavix, which is used to prevent blood clots, does not work effectively for many patients. In a complaint filed in a state court in Harrison County, Texas, Paxton said the drugmakers […]
Health
Texas sues Bristol Myers, Sanofi for concealing blood thinner Plavix’s alleged ineffectiveness
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By Jonathan Stempel
(Reuters) -Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi on Thursday, accusing the drugmakers of failing to disclose that Plavix, which is used to prevent blood clots, does not work effectively for many patients.
In a complaint filed in a state court in Harrison County, Texas, Paxton said the drugmakers knew or should have known since 1998 that Plavix had “diminished effect” on Black, Asian and Pacific Islander patients, but no warning was added to the blood thinner’s label until 2010.
Paxton said the lack of disclosure caused patients to be prescribed “substantially inadequate or inappropriate” medication that left them at greater risk of heart attacks or strokes.
The lawsuit seeks civil fines and other damages for alleged violations of the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act.
“At bottom, defendants prioritized profits even if that meant putting patients’ lives at risk,” Paxton said in the complaint.
In a joint statement, Bristol Myers and Sanofi said they will vigorously defend against Paxton’s lawsuit.
“The overwhelming body of scientific evidence demonstrates that Plavix is a safe and effective therapy, regardless of a patient’s race or genetics,” the companies said.
The companies reached a $700 million settlement of similar claims by Hawaii in May. Bristol Myers is based in Princeton, New Jersey, and Sanofi is based in Paris.
Plavix’s chemical name is clopidogrel.
Paxton has often turned to the courts to battle the pharmaceutical industry.
Last month he sued Tylenol maker Kenvue in a state court in Panola County, adjacent to Harrison County and bordering Louisiana, though a judge rejected his request for greater disclosures about the painkiller as well as a dividend freeze.
On Wednesday, Paxton announced a $41.5 million settlement with Pfizer over alleged quality control lapses in Quillivant XR, which treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.
Paxton is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026 and is expected to face incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul and Nia Williams)