Sanofi Aventis, the manufacturer of Taxotere, faces a new alopecia after chemotherapy lawsuit filed by a woman alleging she suffered permanent hair loss after being prescribed the medication.

Plaintiff Donna B. joined the growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company and filed the lawsuit in a Louisiana federal court.

According to the alopecia after chemotherapy lawsuit, Donna says that she was prescribed Taxotere (docetaxel) on Feb. 17, 2014. She continued her use of the medication through Apr. 22, 2014.

Donna filed her alopecia after chemotherapy lawsuit on Nov. 21, 2017. The lawsuit asserts claims for failure to warn, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and fraud and deceit.

More Patients Report Alopecia After Chemotherapy

Donna’s claim is filed as part of a large multidistrict litigation centered on allegations that Taxotere causes alopecia, or permanent hair loss. Allegations against Sanofi claim that the company, rather than informing consumers that taking Taxotere can result in permanent hair loss, simply stated that hair will “generally” grow back.

According to reports, the drug’s label in Europe and Canada warned patients about risks associated with Taxotere, but labels in the United States did not show the same warning until 2015.

Taxotere was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2004. The lawsuits and growing MDL against Sanofi accuse the company of selling a dangerous, defective, and unsafe drug, and not adequately testing Taxotere for adverse effects before marketing the drug to the public and medical community.

Taxotere Overview

Taxotere works by inhibiting the ability of cancer cells to divide. The drug is typically prescribed in combination with other chemotherapy medications, and it is often prescribed to treat advanced-stage breast cancer.

In addition to hair loss, there are several other side effects associated with Taxotere.  These side effects include susceptibility to infection, numbness in toes and fingers, mouth or throat sores, muscle pain, fatigue, nail changes, constipation, and vomiting. The FDA approved a generic version of Taxotere in 2011.

Although researchers are still hypothesizing the reasons why Taxotere may cause permanent hair loss in women, they believe that it may have something to do with the drug’s potency level.  Taxotere is twice as potent as other chemotherapy drugs such as Taxol. While the increased potency level allows the drug to work for longer intervals of time allowing for fewer treatment cycles, a higher potency level means higher toxicity. Researchers theorize that the increased toxicity levels could be what causes permanent hair loss for women being prescribed Taxotere.

The Alopecia after Chemotherapy Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-12885-KDE-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The Taxotere MDL is In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2740, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.