Bayer Pulls Remaining Stocks of Trasylol

Scott Kappes

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Yesterday the FDA announced that Bayer would be removing remaining stocks of Trasylol after a study confirming suspected increased death risks was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The BART study compared Trasylol with two less expensive alternatives on patients undergoing heart surgery. In November the study was halted when preliminary results suggested that patients being treated with Trasylol were dying at much higher rate than those being treated with the other medications. This prompted Bayer to suspend worldwide marketing of the drug until the results of the trial were finalized. Final results of the study, published in this month's New England Journal of Medicine, showed that patients being given Trasylol had a 53 percent increased risk of death over those treated with alternative medications.

Bayer has informed the FDA that it will now remove remaining stocks of Trasylol from the US market. Most of the stock is in warehouses, doctors' surgeries, and hospitals. The agency said it will work with the drug company to ensure a "smooth and complete process".

Trasylol was shown to be marginally more effective in reducing bleeding; however, this small benefit in almost all cases will not outweigh the risks associated with the drug. Some experts estimate that Trasylol could have been responsible for as many as 1,000 deaths each month.

As of last week Bayer was facing 83 lawsuits over injuries associated with Trasylol; this number will likely skyrocket in coming months. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of being administered Trasylol during heart surgery, we would like to help you.