Dallas Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog
Another Louisiana Taxotere hair loss lawsuit has been filed. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Sanofi-Aventis over the failure to warn about the side effects of Taxotere.
According to Iris Guidry, in her Louisiana Taxotere hair loss lawsuit, claims that the chemotherapy drug Taxotere caused her to suffer permanent and horrendous hair loss, which is not associated with other effective breast cancer treatments.
Guidry claims that Sanofi-Aventis withheld critical information and warnings from patients and doctors about the risk that patients may experience permanent hair loss from Taxotere.
Hair Loss is common after Chemotherapy
Temporary hair loss is to be expected after chemotherapy, and the drug manufacturer claimed that hair grows back after Taxotere use. But, Guidry alleges that since she received breast cancer treatments involving Taxotere in 2011, she has continued hair loss side effects.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuits
Many Taxotere failure to warn lawsuits are filed across the U.S., claiming that Sanofi-Aventis did not adequately disclose the risks of permanent and horrendous hair loss, providing reckless marketing statements. The lawsuits also claim that the drug manufacturer actively encouraged doctors to use Taxotere despite its risks and despite the availability of other, safer cancer treatments.
What is Taxotere?
Taxotere (docetaxel) is a taxane-based cancer drug, released by Sanofi-Aventis in 1996 and touted as a superior alternative to existing taxanes, such as Taxol. According to Guidry and other women, Taxotere is actually no more effective at treating breast cancer, and also has an increased risk of permanent and disfiguring hair loss. This increased risk is not found with other low-potency taxanes.
Sanofi-Aventis did warn in other countries
According to lawsuit complaints, Taxotere permanent hair loss warnings were issued in several other countries including Canada. American women and doctors did not get the same warnings and critical information about the risk of permanent baldness.
Medical studies point to an increased risk of permanent hair loss
Since 2005, medical studies indicate that women face an increased and significant risk of permanent hair loss with Taxotere. Studies have found that ten percent of women treated with Taxotere suffer hair loss that lasted up to 10 years and five months following chemotherapy.
Federal Multidistrict Litigation
In October, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ordered all Taxotere lawsuits filed in federal courts nationwide consolidated and coordinated before U.S. District Judge Lance Africk in the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans for pretrial proceedings. Taxotere is consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2740).
There are currently at least 33 lawsuits over Taxotere hair loss problems pending in 16 different U.S. District Courts nationwide. Pending the JPML order these and future lawsuits will be transferred to New Orleans.
Our law firm handles Taxotere lawsuits from across the country. If you or a loved experienced permanent baldness after taking Taxotere, and you want to file a Louisiana Taxotere hair loss lawsuit, please contact our office immediately for a free case evaluation.