State of Texas Sues Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi for Deceptive Marketing of Blood Thinner Plavix

DALLAS, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- McKool Smith and The Lanier Law Firm, along with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the State of Texas against pharmaceutical giants Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and several Sanofi entities for failing to disclose the efficacy and safety profile of the drug Plavix, which is used as a blood thinner.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (DTPA) by failing to disclose that Plavix had a diminished or no effect on many patients, particularly those from Black, East Asian, and/or Pacific Islander backgrounds, due to genetic factors affecting drug metabolism. The suit further alleges that the defendants' actions also violated the Texas Healthcare Program Fraud Prevention Act (THFPA), resulting in minority patients being prescribed a medication that was substantially inadequate or inappropriate. As a result, millions of Texans were improperly prescribed Plavix and had their lives unnecessarily placed at risk. In addition, the defendants' actions wasted billions of dollars from taxpayer-funded healthcare programs like Texas Medicaid.

"The defendants promoted a medication that was supposed to save lives. In truth, however, Plavix provided no therapeutic benefits to many patients, including patients who had the highest risk of cardiovascular disease and death," said McKool Smith Principal Radu Lelutiu. "This lawsuit marks an important step towards accountability. It is a privilege to represent the State of Texas in this important case."

Along with Mr. Lelutiu, the McKool Smith team includes Principals Jennifer Truelove, Rick Halper, John Briody, Rachael Jones, and Sam Baxter and Senior Counsel Ayana Rivers. The State of Texas is also represented by co-counsel from The Lanier Law Firm.

"For over a decade, these pharmaceutical companies put profits over people," said The Lanier Law Firm's Mark Lanier. "They knew Plavix didn't work for many patients—especially minority patients who already face disproportionate risks of heart disease and stroke—but defendants hid that information to protect their bottom line. Texans trusted these companies with their lives, and that trust was betrayed."

The case is The State of Texas v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Sanofi-Aventis U.S.., case number not immediately available, in the 71st District Court of Harrison County, Texas.

With more than 130 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, and Washington, D.C., McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America's leading trial firms. The firm has secured 19 nine-figure jury verdicts and 16 eight-figure jury verdicts, obtaining more VerdictSearch and The National Law Journal "Top 100 Verdicts" than any other law firm. McKool Smith represents clients in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, insurance recovery, and white-collar defense matters.

CONTACT: Matt Shannon, 4137264321, [email protected]

SOURCE McKool Smith