Houston Taxotere Injury Lawyer
MEDICAL DEVICE & PHARMACEUTICAL INJURY
Taxotere Lawsuit 2022 Representation
Over 10,000 lawsuits have been brought against the makers of Taxotere and Docetaxel for concealing the adverse effects of irreversible hair loss. The makers of Taxotere have been facing legal action since 2019.
With the help of a successful class action lawsuit attorney, you can get justice for your Taxotere injury, alongside countless others for the adverse side effects you suffered.
At Reich & Binstock, our experienced attorneys litigate on behalf of those involved in defective medical device and pharmaceutical injury cases. Our priority is to provide the care and compassion that you deserve for your case, all while fighting aggressively for just compensation. To schedule a consultation with us, please call our Houston office at 713-622-7271 today.
What Is Taxotere?
So what is Taxotere? Sanofi-Aventis manufactures Taxotere (active ingredient: docetaxel), which received authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration in May 1996. Doctors use Taxotere to treat a variety of malignancies, but they most often use it to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have progressed or relapsed after receiving anthracycline-based treatment.
For those with operable node-positive breast cancer, the medication also acts as an adjuvant therapy in conjunction with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Taxotere works by breaking off the splitting and multiplying of cells in and around a malignant clump, preventing cancerous cells from spreading. Taxotere belongs to a family of chemotherapy medicines known as taxane drugs, which are derived from plant alkaloids.
What is the Status of the Taxotere Lawsuit in 2022?
An increasing number of women and their families have filed lawsuits against Sanofi, the maker of Taxotere, as well as generic manufacturers. They allege that the companies knew of the elevated risk of Alopecia, but neglected to notify customers. Sanofi is also accused of concealing data and studies that connected Taxotere to these negative side effects, according to the plaintiffs. Sanofi did advise customers outside of the United States that Taxotere might cause “permanent hair loss” and potentially Alopecia, but did not notify consumers in the United States.
According to evidence submitted in a lawsuit against Sanofi, the company sought to minimize known hazards in order to have the medication authorized in 1996. Plaintiffs claim that staff training included imparting false information about Taxotere’s safety and effectiveness, as well as unlawful payments in the form of “kickbacks” to doctors who prescribed the drug. According to the lawsuits, Sanofi deceived the American public through advertising and marketing that told Taxotere users that hair loss was only temporary and that permanent hair loss was not a concern.
In the lawsuit, plaintiffs also explained that Sanofi did not recognize data collected from the GEICAM 9805 study. This study showed that approximately 9.2% of patients suffered hair loss lasting more than 10 years. While these studies show that Taxotere truly is an effective chemotherapy treatment, they also show that other treatments are just as effective, but without the added risk of permanent hair loss.
Taxotere Lawsuit Allegations
In the Taxotere lawsuit 2022, multiple allegations have been made against the drug and its manufacturers.
Serious allegations include:
- The drug is defective, as well as unreasonably dangerous.
- Sanofi-Aventis exhibited negligence in its manufacturing of Taxotere.
- They failed to test the drug properly, which led to a failure to warn doctors and patients of the potential for alopecia.
- Sanofi-Aventis hid evidence of the dangers of the drug, as well as misrepresented its safety and effectiveness within their marketing materials.
Is Taxotere Still Used?
Yes. Taxotere is the most often prescribed medication in its class (taxane) for the treatment of breast cancer. Some sources estimate that 75 percent of breast cancer patients will receive Taxotere. However, depending on the future Taxotere lawsuits and their outcomes, this high percentage may begin to fall.
Unlike similar chemotherapy medicines that have weekly treatment schedules, Taxotere has a three-week treatment plan. Taxotere is more appealing to both patients and doctors since it requires fewer visits to the doctor for therapy. Taxotere is also licensed for use outside of the hospital (in dosages of 60-100 mg/m2). To deal with long infusion periods, similar chemotherapy treatments necessitate hospitalization. Toxic mortality occurs in around 2% of metastatic breast cancer patients and about 11.5 percent of individuals with other tumor types requiring impaired liver function who are on Taxotere, according to the label.
What are the Long Term Effects of Taxotere?
Alongside the most common side effects of Taxotere, it carries a black box warning for known adverse health effects. The US Food and Drug Administration requires black box warnings, often known as boxed warnings, for some drugs that pose severe safety concerns. Often, these warnings are intended to convey critical instructions for safe medicine use, or they may be used to highlight possibly uncommon but serious adverse effects. Below, we list the black box warnings.
Toxic Death
Patients with aberrant liver function, those on larger dosages, those with NSCLC, and those who have previously had platinum-based treatment are at higher risk.
Hepatotoxicity
Taxotere therapy causes liver damage owing to chemical exposure. Hepatotoxicity, which is common in individuals with impaired liver function or high LFT, can lead to serious consequences and even death.
Fluid retention
The label for Taxotere advises that for certain people, the condition may become severe.
Neutropenia
Patients with a low neutrophil count (a kind of white blood cell) are more susceptible to bacterial infections. These bacterial infections, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems and even death. Patients with neutrophil counts of fewer than 1500 cells per 3 cubic millimeters of blood volume are more likely to develop neutropenia, thus Taxotere should only be used if absolutely required. Doctors are advising patients who are on Taxotere to have their blood levels checked on a regular basis.
Hypersensitivity reactions
Rashes, low blood pressure, and deadly anaphylaxis are all possible reactions. These problems are particularly common in patients who took dexamethasone as a premedication.
Will My Hair Grow Back After Taxotere?
Most chemotherapy treatments cause temporary hair loss as a side effect. However, the majority of them do not result in total hair loss. According to studies, temporary hair loss has the biggest influence on a patient’s quality of life of all the side effects connected with chemotherapy. Alopecia, or permanent hair loss, has been related to people who use Taxotere for chemotherapy treatment.
Alopecia is a condition that affects all body hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair, and pubic hair, and is permanent and irreversible. It has been linked to the usage of Taxotere in several studies.
Alopecia may have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, body image, and despair and anxiety. It may be distressing for women who are already dealing with the effects of breast cancer and chemotherapy.
Alopecia is more than a cosmetic impact for breast cancer sufferers. The illness serves as a daily reminder of the fight against breast cancer. According to a 2012 research published in the Annals of Oncology, women who developed alopecia as a result of Taxotere had “substantial deterioration” in their quality of life.
Taxotere Lawsuit Damages
Those eligible for a Taxotere lawsuit took the drug (docetaxel) and developed permanent alopecia.
Below, we include the possible damages you can recover:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Cost of wigs, hairdresser, and hair extensions
- Disfigurement
- Current and future lost wages
- Decrease in earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Other related losses
Experienced Taxotere Injury Lawyers
Contact Reich & Binstock now for a free, confidential, no-obligation case review and Taxotere lawsuit consultation if you or a loved one suffered lifelong disfigurement as a result of the usage of Taxotere or docetaxel. Our Taxotere attorneys will be there for you every step of the way, answering any questions you may have and guiding you through the Taxotere lawsuit process. Call our Houston office at 713-622-7271 today.
There is a never a fee unless we recover on your behalf.
