Are you a cancer patient? Are you or your loved one there taking chemotherapy medication? Have you heard of the Taxotere class-action lawsuits that have been filed?
If the medication you or your loved ones are taking is Taxotere (docetaxel) and are unaware of the Taxotere class-action lawsuits, you should read ahead.
Taxotere And Permanent Hair Loss
Taxotere causes permanent hair loss. Though cancer patients are ready to experience some hair fall during their chemotherapy, they are hopeful that their hair will grow back after a certain time.
The same cannot be said if someone is taking Taxotere as a chemotherapy drug. Taxotere is alleged to cause permanent hair loss, i.e., Alopecia.
Permanent hair loss is considered a life-altering effect, and therefore people are coming forward to file lawsuits against Sanofi-Aventis, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Taxotere chemotherapy drugs.
Permanent hair loss is considered a life-altering side effect as it hampers the quality of life and has also caused depression in most women.
Is Taxotere A Good Chemo Drug?
Taxotere or docetaxel is a widely preferred and prescribed chemotherapy drug. It is most commonly prescribed to patients and women with breast cancer. It is also prescribed for treating non-small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer. These Taxotere class-action lawsuits deal with the fallout from using it.
How Does Taxotere Work?
Taxotere is not a pill. It is given by infusing it in the veins. This is how it works by attacking the cancer cells in the body.
As it is infused, it is more effective and is known for treating cancer in fewer chemotherapy sessions than typically required. Every time Taxotere is given through IV, the treatment takes about an hour. It is given after 3 to 4 weeks. It is often given in combination with other drugs like cisplatin, fluorouracil, and doxorubicin.
However, the serious side effect of taking Taxotere cannot be ignored. When talking about hair loss, it causes hair loss on the head and hair loss throughout the body like underarms, eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair.
Initially, it claimed that the hair actually grows back after the treatment. However, in 2015, it was made clear that the hair loss resulting out of Taxotere is actually permanent and not temporary. The Taxotere class-action lawsuits focus on this problem.
What Is Permanent Alopecia?
When baldness due to hair loss doesn’t result in new growth even after six months to a year, it is considered a permanent hair loss.
The Taxotere lawsuits are filed by women as the company failed to warn its patients or the medical community of this serious side effect. They also allege that the company knew very well of its side effects but downplayed it for their own interests.
Updated FDA label for Taxotere Alopecia
The people also alleged Sanofi Aventis withholding the information about the number of people who suffered from permanent hair loss after taking Taxotere. According to data, in the year 1990s, around 9.2% of people suffered from it.
According to the latest research by the National Cancer Research Institute Conference, around 15% of people are subject to be affected by significant long-term alopecia after taking this drug.
Even after years of research and concrete data that Taxotere causes permanent hair loss, FDA updated its safety information regarding Taxotere not before December 2015.
FDA also sent a warning letter to Sanofi Aventis twice. Once in 2003 for communicating misleading advertisements to consumers. Second in the year 2009 for advertising its drug as ‘superior efficacy in treating cancer patients.
Who Qualifies For A Taxotere Lawsuit?
Any plaintiff has a right to file a Taxotere lawsuit or join a Taxotere class-action lawsuit. Taxotere lawsuits are generally dealt with in multidistrict litigation.
To qualify for a Taxotere lawsuit, one needs to:
- Have medical records showing Taxotere was taken as a chemotherapy drug
- Prove they have been experiencing permanent hair loss after chemotherapy, i.e., incomplete hair regrowth even after six months of the treatment.
As the drug is given via IV, it is a bit difficult to know if one took Taxotere as a chemotherapy drug. However, you can check your medical records or directly ask for the same from the doctor’s office or clinic.
Contact Our Class Action Lawyers
More than 10000 Taxotere class-action lawsuits are filed in different courts. However, no settlement has been reported till now. All the litigations are under process. Trial after the trial has been conducted. The latest trial was completed in September 2019 and favored the drug manufacturer Sanofi.
However, this shouldn’t stop you from filing your own Taxotere lawsuit case. The more lawsuits, the higher are the chances of receiving compensation.
So, if you have faced similar effects, there is a chance for you to claim compensation by filing a Taxotere class-action lawsuit. Contact us to learn more.
