Paul Tassin  |  October 8, 2015

Category: Legal News

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diabetic ketoacidosis diabetes medication invokana sglt2An Invokana lawsuit has been filed over allegations that the diabetes medication causes kidney disease.

Lead plaintiff Rosalba J. of Ontario, Canada filed a potential diabetes medication lawsuit against manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals on behalf of all Canadian patients who have taken Invokana.

Rosalba says she began taking Invokana in October 2014 to treat high blood sugar associated with type-2 diabetes. In June of that year, she became aware that Invokana treatment could be associated with kidney disease. After consulting her doctor and undergoing some tests, she was diagnosed with kidney failure.

Rosalba claims that even when used according to the drug’s labeling, Invokana can lead to serious side effects including ketoacidosis and kidney failure. She states that Janssen and its parent company Johnson & Johnson are responsible for failing to adequately warn patients and doctors about the dangers associated with Invokana. The plaintiff also alleges Janssen failed to adequately study how drugs like Invokana affected kidney health.

The Invokana lawsuit accuses manufacturers of negligence and violating Canada’s Consumer Protection Act. Rosalba is seeking disgorgement of profits related to Janssen and J&J’s allegedly unlawful actions, statutory damages under the Consumer Protection Act, and an award of punitive damages.

Joudry is requesting $1 billion dollars in damages for potential class members.

Type-2 Diabetes Medication

Invokana, or canagliflozin, is one of a new class of diabetes medications called sodiumglucose cotransporter2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors. These drugs work by directing the kidneys to remove excess sugar from the blood and excrete it in urine. Canagliflozin is also used in the brand-name drug Invokamet, in combination with the older diabetes medication metformin.

The FDA first approved Invokana for U.S. sales in March 2013, and Health Canada approved it for sales in Canada in May 2014. Since then, Invokana has brought in substantial revenues for Janssen and Johnson & Johnson, reaching $278 million in the first quarter of 2015 alone.

J&J invested heavily in its promotional campaign for Invokana, spending a total of $7 million from August to December 2013. Invokana has also been approved for coverage under Medicare Part D and many private insurance plans.

SGLT-2 Inhibitors Complications

Invokana and other SGLT-2 inhibitors are also under scrutiny for their possible relationship to ketoacidosis. In May 2015, the FDA published a warning advising doctors and patients to watch for signs of ketoacidosis in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued this warning after a review of its Adverse Event Reporting System revealed 20 cases of acidosis in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors between March 2013 and June 2014. The federal agency noted that it is unusual for ketoacidosis to occur in patients with type-2 diabetes since it is a complication associated more with type 1.

The FDA advises patients taking Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors to seek medical attention at the first sign of symptoms of ketoacidosis such as “difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, and unusual fatigue or sleepiness.” The agency says patients should not stop or change their medications without first consulting their physician.

In general, diabetes medication lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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If you or a loved one suffered ketoacidosis or kidney failure after taking Invokana, Invokamet, Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Jardiance or Glyxambi, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free diabetes medication class action lawsuit investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

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