Numerous Taxotere patients have alleged they had problems with hair regrowth after chemotherapy, with many of them diagnosed with permanent alopecia.

Many of these patients allege that Sanofi Aventis failed to warn them that they may have troubles with hair regrowth after chemotherapy, spurring growing multidistrict litigation (MDL).

One of the most recent Taxotere lawsuits was filed by a woman from Florida, who alleges she had problems with hair regrowth after chemotherapy and developed permanent alopecia. Plaintiff Patricia S. says she was prescribed Taxotere for breast cancer treatment, but was not aware that permanent hair loss was a potential side effect.

Taxotere is one of the most popular chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer treatment, and has been on the market since the mid-1990s. This chemotherapy drug has been approved to treat multiple cancers over the years, and it remains one of the most popular choices for breast cancer.

With the widespread popularity of the drug, Patricia’s oncologist allegedly prescribed Taxotere treatment and had her begin chemo on May 29, 2015. The Taxotere treatment regimen lasted until Dec. 2, 2015, during which Patricia says she developed permanent alopecia.

According to the Taxotere lawsuit, Patricia lost her eyebrows, eyelashes, and the hair on her scalp, creating permanent bald spots. Patrica alleges she has not had any success in hair regrowth after chemotherapy, and continues to contend with the emotional impact of alopecia.

Patricia says she opted to file legal action against Sanofi Aventis, after discovering the company allegedly concealed the fact that patients might face problems with hair regrowth after chemotherapy.

Overview of Taxotere Hair Loss

Like many other chemotherapy treatment drugs, Taxotere works by attacking rapidly reproducing cells and inhibiting their ability to multiply. Due to this treatment mechanism, hair follicles are some of the first groups of cells to be attacked.

This makes partial or complete hair loss to be a common chemotherapy side effect, but hair regrowth after chemotherapy is generally expected to occur some point after the treatment regiment ends.

This has allegedly not been the case for many Taxotere patients, who allege they did not have any success in experiencing hair regrowth after chemotherapy.

The risk of permanent Taxotere alopecia was reportedly not added to the medication’s warning label in December 2015, when the FDA ordered Sanofi Aventis to add it to the list of potential side effects.

Plaintiffs note that before this label change, the Taxotere warning label stated that patients’ hair “generally grows back” after the chemotherapy treatment cycles are completed. This allegedly gave patients and their oncologists a false sense of security, and put patients at risk for permanent alopecia.

It is important to note that European health officials issued this warning label years before the FDA ordered it in the United States, which according to plaintiffs shows that Sanofi Aventis was aware of the problem. Patricia states she would not have agreed to Taxotere treatment, if she knew that hair regrowth after chemotherapy would be difficult or even impossible.

Patricia’s Taxotere lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2740, where it will stand alongside similar claims from patients who also experienced problems with hair regrowth after chemotherapy.

This Taxotere Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-08415-JTM-MBN, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana.