Another California woman who suffered permanent hair loss or “alopecia” after undergoing chemotherapy with Taxotere (generic: docetaxel) has filed a products liability lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis in Los Angeles filed the complaint on Nov. 14, 2016.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you experienced permanent hair loss or “alopecia” after chemotherapy with Taxotere, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
What’s the Problem?
Plaintiff Mary Gardner of Los Angeles filed the complaint on Nov. 14, 2016, accusing Sanofi of failing to adequately warn that Taxotere could increase the risk of permanent hair loss following chemotherapy. According to the lawsuit, Gardner was treated with Taxotere after she was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2009.
Fortunately, Gardner is now cancer-free; however, she has suffered permanent hair loss since undergoing chemo with Taxotere, according to the lawsuit.
Plaintiff alleges that Taxotere is more likely to cause permanent alopecia compared to other equally effective chemotherapy medications and that Sanofi warned about this risk in other countries, including Canada and in Europe. In the U.S., however, the drug’s labeling merely states that “hair generally grows back” after treatment is complete.
Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. The condition may occur anywhere on the body, with hair falling out entirely, gradually, or in sections. Hair loss related to cancer treatment is usually temporary, but in patients treated with Taxotere, the condition may be permanent. When this occurs, the condition may be referred to as permanent significant alopecia, or PSA.
In December 2015, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged there have been numerous reports of PSA associated with Taxotere chemotherapy treatment. FDA’s announcement preceded a label change for the product, noting the possibility of permanent hair loss.
In October 2016, a panel of judges ordered that all federal lawsuits alleging permanent hair loss from Taxotere be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2740) for pretrial handling in the Eastern District of Louisiana. At the time the MDL was announced, there were at least 33 such complaints pending in 16 different states.
Do I Have a Taxotere Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Taxotere lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new hair loss and alopecia cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you lost hair and were unable to grow it back after undergoing chemo with Taxotere, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.