A diabetes patient alleges the medication Invokana led to his development of Fournier’s gangrene, a type of flesh-eating infection.

Plaintiff Lee L. alleges Fournier’s gangrene had developed soon after starting his Invokamet prescription, and had to have part of his scrotum removed due to the condition.

Fournier’s gangrene is a flesh-eating bacterial infection that affects the genitals. It destroys the tissue under the skin surrounding the muscles, surfaces, fat and blood vessels in the perineal area. This is a rare but serious condition that can cause serious damage to the patient’s genital area and has become recently associated with Invokamet and other SGLT2 inhibitors.

According to the Invokamet lawsuit, Lee had been prescribed the medication for typical diabetes treatment purposes in February 2017. Even though Lee had taken the medication according to prescription instructions and physician’s advice, he says he still developed Fournier’s gangrene after starting his prescription.

According to the Invokamet lawsuit, Lee had to have 60 percent of his scrotum removed on Nov. 26, 2017. He says he stopped taking the type-2 diabetes drug in later 2017.

Lee opted to file legal action soon after the FDA issued a public warning stating that Invokamet and other SGLT2 inhibitors may have been linked to Fournier’s gangrene.

Overview of SGLT2 Inhibitor Fournier’s Gangrene Correlation

Fournier’s gangrene typically develops after bacteria enters the body through a cut, and quickly spreads and deteriorates the tissue. However, type-2 diabetes patients may face an increased risk due to the side effects of the treatment medications the patients are prescribed.

SIGLT2 inhibitors like Invokana have become associated with Fournier’s gangrene, after patients were reportedly been hospitalized and had undergone multiple surgeries to treat the conditions. One patient reportedly died from Fournier’s gangrene, which triggered concern in the medical community.

The FDA recently issued a warning regarding Fournier’s gangrene in August 2018, which stated that SGLT2 inhibitors may increase the chances of this condition. The FDA stated that it had received 12 reports from patients prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors from March 2013 to May 2018 who allegedly developed Fournier’s gangrene following treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

The FDA stated that there are probably more injury reports that have not been submitted, and that doctors should be wary of this potential correlation. While Fournier’s gangrene is more common in men, five of the patients in the 12 injury reports were women.

Even though this is a devastating condition, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to include any warnings regarding Fournier’s gangrene. Invokamet had been approved by the FDA in 2014, and is a part of the SGLT2 inhibitor drug family.

These medications are supposed to help type-2 diabetes patients drugs live normal lives, but have exposed patients to serious complications like Fournier’s gangrene. Lee states that he would not have agreed to take Invokamet if he had known that the drug would increase the chances of serious side effects.

Lee’s Invokamet lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2750, where it will be streamlined through the litigation process and avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

This Fournier’s Gangrene Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-13584, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.

Join a Free Diabetes Medications & Flesh-Eating Infection Lawsuit Investigation

The type-2 diabetes medications linked to the flesh-eating infection include:

• Invokana
• Invokamet/Invokamet XR
• Farxiga
• Xigduo XR
• Qtern
• Jardiance
• Glyxambi
• Synjardy/Synjardy XR
• Steglato
• Segluromet
• Steglujan

If you or a loved one took one of the type-2 diabetes medications listed above and suffered from a flesh-eating genital infection, you may qualify to join this diabetes medication lawsuit investigation. Fill out the FREE form on this page for more information.

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