The rapidly growing number of low testosterone drug lawsuits (regarding products such as Androgel, Testim, and Axiron) has made a step forward in the litigation process. All parties met on Sept. 23 with Judge Matthew F. Kennelly presiding to discuss a proposed agenda and other motions to move the cases forward.

Judge Kennelly asked that all parties reach a mutual agreement on a form for the plaintiff’s fact sheet and a document preservation order. This will help expedite the process of finding information about each specific case that is a part of the low testosterone drug multidistrict litigation (MDL). All testosterone drug lawsuits have been consolidated into one MDL to make it easier for plaintiffs and defendants to resolve the litigation.

All parties are optimistic that they will reach a mutual agreement and create a unified report, according to the minutes from the Sept. 23 meeting. Both parties have until Oct. 17 to file a proposed agenda that includes a joint status report on the progress of the unified case management plan and document preservation order. The next status conference is scheduled for Oct. 24, with additional conferences scheduled for Dec. 8 and Jan.12, 2015.

It appears that there is a need for stronger organization due the rising number of plaintiffs in the low testosterone drug litigation. A total of 201 testosterone lawsuits have been consolidated into the MDL from June to Sept. 15 and presented before Judge Kennelly, with the number of plaintiffs rapidly growing.

It is expected that thousands will file lawsuits over alleged injuries caused by testosterone gels, creams, pills, injections or patches. The early case management conferences are designed to encourage the early organizational actions taken by attorneys from both sides.

Testosterone Side Effects Cited in Lawsuits

Plaintiffs allege that taking low testosterone drugs have caused heart attacks, strokes, deep vein thrombosis (blood clots deep in the body), pulmonary embolism (when pulmonary arteries in the lungs become blocked), or other severe testosterone side effects that were not disclosed on product labels and warnings.

Public concern about low testosterone drugs begun when the Journal of American Medical Association published a study in November 2013 about the side effects of testosterone medication. Researchers found that nearly 30% of the cases studied (8,700 total), “increased their risks of heart attack, stroke, and death.”

This study was followed by many others, including studies done by the medical journal PLOSOne and the FDA. All alleged that low testosterone drugs increased the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients—that those who do not have severe cases of low testosterone are not visibly benefitting from taking testosterone supplements.

Allegedly, low testosterone drug manufacturers are selling to patients who do not truly need this kind of medical assistance and are enjoying the profits from their highly advertised low testosterone treatments. About 5.3 million testosterone prescriptions are given each year.

Testosterone levels lower naturally as men age, causing some doctors to question whether it’s safe to prescribe testosterone without a diagnosed medical condition. Furthermore, the long-term effects of low testosterone drugs are widely unknown.

As the number of new testosterone lawsuits against drug manufacturers continues to increase, so does the testosterone MDL. Judge Kennelly will likely select a group of cases for early trial dates, which may indicate how later trials will proceed and influence settlement negotiations.

Men who used a testosterone gel or testosterone cream and suffered such complications may be eligible to take legal action. See if you qualify to join a free class action lawsuit investigation by filing out the short form above.