Sanofi Aventis is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) consisting of product liability claims, alleging Taxotere (docetaxel) caused women to develop permanent breast cancer hair loss.

One of the most recent Taxotere lawsuits was filed by a woman from Minnesota, alleging she developed permanent breast cancer hair loss after undergoing chemotherapy.

Plaintiff Sylvia K. alleges Sanofi Aventis failed to warn her that permanent breast cancer hair loss was a risk associated with Taxotere, and that they had known about it for years. This allegation stems from the fact that European patients received the warning years before the FDA released an official warning to United States patients in December 2015.

During this warning, the FDA ordered Sanofi Aventis to include potentially permanent breast cancer hair loss on Taxotere’s warning label after injury reports indicating the event had been submitted. Even though this is a devastating risk to patients, Sanofi Avenits allegedly failed to disclose this information the general public.

According to the Taxotere lawsuit, Sylvia had been prescribed Taxotere for breast cancer treatment after being diagnosed with the disease. Her oncologist recommended Taxotere after reviewing different treatment options. She began the chemotherapy regimen in January 2009.

Sylvia was reportedly on Taxotere chemotherapy treatment until December 2009, during which time she reportedly developed breast cancer hair loss.

Sylvia says she has since been unable to regrow her hair and has opted to file legal action against Sanofi Avenits after discovering that other women developed permanent alopecia as an alleged result of Taxotere treatment.

Overview of Breast Cancer Hair Loss

Taxotere is a popular breast cancer treatment drug that was approved by the FDA in the 1990s, and has since been approved to treat other variants of cancer.

Like other chemotherapy drugs, Taxotere works by targeting rapidly reproducing cells in the human body and inhibiting their reproductive functions. This makes hair follicles one of the first groups of cells to be targeted, which makes breast cancer hair loss a fairly common side effect.

However, permanent hair loss is much rarer and should be indicated on the drug’s label, many believe. The risk of permanent breast cancer hair loss became associated with Taxotere after several significant studies indicated a correlation.

One of these studies was published by Dr. Scot Sedlacek of the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, who found that 6.3 percent of Taxotere breast cancer patients grew back less than 50 percent of their hair after treatment.

Even though permanent breast cancer hair loss can be emotionally devastating to patients, Sanofi Aventis allegedly failed to include this information on Taxotere’s warning label for years. Sylvia states she would not have agreed to use Taxotere if she had known about the risk of permanent hair loss.

Sylvia’s Taxotere lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2740, where it will stand alongside other claims also alleging permanent breast cancer hair loss. By joining an MDL, Sylvia’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Sylvia is seeking multiple damages in her Taxotere lawsuit, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Breast Cancer Hair Loss Lawsuit is Case 2:18-cv-07496-JTM-MBN, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana.