ALLEGED TAXOTERE® SIDE EFFECTS

There are multiple alleged Taxotere® side effects that have been reported as the drug gained market share.  Examples of these alleged Taxotere® side effects include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fluid retention
• Numbness in fingers and toes
• Mouth sores
• Fatigue
• Temporary hair loss

Permanent hair loss, also known as alopecia, is the alleged Taxotere® side effect that has become the crux of Taxotere® lawsuits.  While Sanofi-Aventis made no warning of the risk of permanent alopecia until January 2016, a staggering number of women have had a different experience with Taxotere® hair loss.  All the while, Taxol®, an equally effective alternative drug was available that carried virtually no risk of permanent alopecia.

ALOPECIA DESCRIBED

As mentioned above, alopecia is a medical condition that relates to hair loss.  It is common for people who undergo chemotherapy to experience temporary hair loss.  That’s because chemotherapy drugs such as Taxotere® attack cells that are dividing in the body, and some of these cells are hair follicle cells.  The problem that led to the filing of Taxotere® lawsuits is increased risk of hair loss that was permanent, and women and doctors were not adequately warned of this risk.

Women who suffer from permanent hair loss face a difficult challenge that goes beyond vanity.  Alopecia can inflict a great deal of emotional distress.  A woman’s hair is often associated with her identity and femininity.  The permanent loss of this feature can substantially harm a woman’s self-image, in turn affecting every aspect of her life.  In a tangible sense, permanent hair loss can lead to expenses that include the purchase of wigs, hair loss treatments and other costs that are not initially foreseen when someone undergoes chemotherapy for breast cancer.  Studies have also been done that reveal that some women would decline chemotherapy due to fears of hair loss.

TAXOTERE® STUDIES

In recent years, several different Taxotere® hair loss studies have been conducted.  These studies examined the risk of permanent Taxotere® hair loss in some manner.  Below are a few descriptions of these Taxotere® studies:

• GEICAM 9085 Study –
  • GEICAM 9085 Study – The GEICAM 9085 study is particularly noteworthy because it was co-sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis. The study reported alopecia (hair loss) as one of the most common lasting problems associated with Taxotere. In fact, 2 percent of patients suffered hair loss lasting into the follow-up period (median follow up time 10 years and 5 months).[1]

  [1] European Medicines Agency, Comm. for Medicinal Products for Human use (CHMP), CHMP Type II variation assessment report (12 May 2016).

• Dr. Scot Sedlacek – Dr. Sedlacek of the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers completed a study in 2006 that concluded that approximately 6 percent of patients who used Taxotere® suffered permanent hair loss.
• Swiss Study – In 2010, Swiss researchers found that 47 percent of women studied stated that hair loss was the most traumatic aspect of chemotherapy.  Approximately 8 percent of women stated that they would decline chemotherapy due to fear of temporary hair loss.
• Cancer Research – In 2015, Cancer Research published a study that revealed that between 10 and 15 percent of breast cancer patients responded to an October 2013 questionnaire indicating that they had suffered permanent hair loss.  These patients were given Taxotere® during chemotherapy.

There are additional studies, but the majority of them tend to point towards a defined risk of permanent hair loss for those who used Taxotere®, including one study that was funded by the drug’s manufacturer.

TAXOTERE® NEWS

Given its popularity and the controversy that has surrounded this medication, Taxotere® has been in the news quite a bit in recent years.  Below is a brief sampling:

• 2009 – The FDA sends a warning letter to the makers of Taxotere® regarding their allegedly false and misleading advertisements concerning Taxotere®’s unsubstantiated superiority to Taxol®.
• 2015 – A story in The Mirror in the United Kingdom details the struggles faced by a woman who had lost her hair.
• 2016 – News broke in the United Kingdom about a Taxotere® recall of 15 batches of the medication due to manufacturing problems.
• 2016 – Reuters published a story stating that Taxotere® attorneys have requested that dozens of Taxotere® lawsuits filed be consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation, or a Taxotere® MDL.

In addition, the FDA has recently ordered that the product labeling of Taxotere® be changed to reflect the risk of permanent alopecia.  Labels in Canada were changed to reflect this risk in 2005.  Labels in Europe were updated in 2012.

REALITIES OF A TAXOTERE® LAWSUIT

According to several reports, Sanofi-Aventis generates tens of billions of dollars per year in sales.  Companies this big and powerful understand how to defend themselves and will exercise their legal rights to do so when challenged.  Individual consumers who believe they have been harmed by Taxotere® should make sure that they obtain proper legal advice before deciding how they should proceed.  Defendants in these lawsuits will employ highly skilled defense attorneys given their vast resources.  Consumers need to counteract that form of help with legal help of their own.

If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of this medication, you need to seek the help of Taxotere® lawyers who understand what it takes to hold even the largest corporations accountable for the harm they inflict on consumers.  Contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation.