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Taxotere, or docetaxel, is an FDA-approved chemotherapy drug that may be causing permanent hair loss in patients. Although it’s been in use to treat many different types of cancers since its debut in 1996, Taxotere has been linked to a serious side effect: permanent, irreversible alopecia (hair loss). The drug’s manufacturer, Sanofi, is now facing thousands of product liability lawsuits that allege the company was negligent and guilty of false marketing. If you or a loved one experienced hair loss after taking Taxotere, contact the New Orleans personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C.
Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug that physicians most commonly prescribe for treating breast cancer. The main active ingredient in Taxotere by Sanofi is docetaxel. The FDA approved Taxotere for treating cancer patients intravenously, with the purpose of slowing down or stopping cancer cells from dividing. Patients undergoing cancer treatment receive Taxotere every three weeks, making it a more attractive choice than many other chemotherapy drugs, which require weekly administration.
Sanofi listed hair loss as a possible side effect of Taxotere, but the drug’s original paperwork said that hair would grow back upon completion of chemotherapy treatments. Hair loss is not an unusual side effect of chemotherapy drugs. In fact, hair loss is often the first sign that the chemotherapy drug is present in a cancer patient. However, chemo-related hair loss should not be permanent. Cancer patients expect to regrow their hair upon completion of chemotherapy treatments. Unfortunately for thousands of patients who took Taxotere, this will not be the case. Our New Orleans Taxotere lawsuit attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Women have complained of the inability to regrow their hair after taking Taxotere since the first years after the drug’s entrance on to the market. Sanofi failed to investigate the matter or release data relating to the issue despite the complaints. Finally, almost 20 years later, the FDA updated Taxotere’s warning label, adding the potential side effect of permanent hair loss. Patients using Taxotere after 2015 will have read that in some cases, patients experienced permanent hair loss.
An updated warning label, however, is not enough to recompense victims who have already suffered permanent hair loss. These victims can turn to the civil law system for justice and financial compensation. Current lawsuits against Sanofi are seeking reparations for medical expenses, psychological counseling, therapies, permanent disfigurement, mental anguish, debilitating emotional distress, and impaired enjoyment of life.
Claimants in pending lawsuits have stated that Sanofi knew about the potential risks of permanent alopecia when taking Taxotere, yet negligently failed to warn doctors. They also claim that Sanofi falsely marketed the drug without including a warning on the label regarding the risk of permanent hair loss. Lawsuits against Sanofi for Taxotere are currently in multidistrict litigation (MDL), which consolidates many claims regarding the same defendant and the same or similar damages.
Cancer patients should not have to worry about chemotherapy-related hair loss being permanent. Discovering that the hair will never grow back because of a harmful and hidden side effect of Taxotere can cause great emotional distress in someone undergoing cancer treatment. If this happened to you or a family member in Louisiana, you have rights. The drug manufacturer may owe you compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial damages as a result of their defective product.
The first four cases against Sanofi for Taxotere-related alopecia will go to trial in 2019. If you believe you have grounds to join the ongoing MDL against Sanofi, contact us. John W. Redmann and his New Orleans based team can help you file your claim in pursuit of justice and fair financial recovery. Call (504) 500-5000 today to request your free, confidential legal consultation at our Gretna, Louisiana office.