Although it's not exactly a scientific study, a recent predicament involving Janssen Pharmaceuticals-sponsored NASCAR driver Brian Vickers has raised a few eyebrows. Vickers, the main sponsor spokesman for the company's drug Xarelto, suffered a blood clot that prevented him from participating in an Auto Club Speedway race in March.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals has an active marketing presence in the auto racing industry. In fact, the company sponsored the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 car at the Auto Club Speedway race as well, along with the Xfinity Series Drive4Clots.com 300 race.
Despite Vickers' public advocacy of Xarelto, he hasn't used the product since 2013, since official contest rules prohibit racers from using blood thinners due to the risk of fatal blood loss in the event of an accident. In a recent ESPN article, journalist Bob Pockrass concluded "The key for Vickers' future will be whether he wants to possibly continue to risk developing blood clots by getting off the blood thinners in order to race."
Given the most recent information leaked about Xarelto and its lack of an antidote, Vickers could have potentially put himself in a fatal situation had he raced with the drug in his system.
For more information regarding the harm of Xarelto, download a copy of our free E-book, The Xarelto Disaster: How Johnson & Johnson Failed to Warn Consumers of Deadly Internal Bleeding Risks or call our experienced legal team to discuss your particular issue with Xarelto by calling 855-423-3666.