A Florida cancer patient recently filed a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit against Sanofi S.A., alleging that the company’s chemotherapy treatment caused permanent rather than temporary hair loss problems.

The plaintiff, Gail L., began chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere in November 2007, and continued with this drug in her regimen through Feb. 14, 2008. Of course, cancer patients go into chemotherapy knowing that a common side effect is hair loss, or alopecia. However, after her treatment with Taxotere was over, Gail’s hair did not grow back, the Taxotere hair loss lawsuit claims.

The Taxotere hair loss lawsuit was filed on July 14 on multiple counts, including failure to warn, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, breach of express warranty, and several others.

Permanent Taxotere Hair Loss

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is a common symptom associated with chemotherapy treatment—certainly the most recognizable of side effects cancer patients are forced to deal with. Most patients go into chemotherapy aware that they run a risk of losing their hair to alopecia from the treatment. But these patients generally expect that after their chemotherapy treatment is eventually over, their hair will grow back.

Unfortunately, a growing number of cancer patients are discovering that this may not be the case, and have been left with permanent hair loss after treatment with Taxotere, unable to grow their hair back at all. Others still have great difficulty growing their hair back, and it only grows in clumps or patches.

Background of Taxotere

Taxotere (also known by its generic name docetaxel) is a commonly used chemotherapy drug manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Sanofi. Taxotere was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over two decades ago, back in 1996, and has grown steadily more popular over the years.

Unfortunately, many patients treated with docetaxel drugs are being left with problems growing back their hair, or even permanent hair loss complications after chemotherapy treatment is over.

Filing a Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit

According to this Taxotere hair loss lawsuit and others like it, Sanofi either knew or should have known that their drug Taxotere was linked with permanent hair loss complications.

Plaintiffs allege that the company not only failed to adequately warn about this risk, but even actively concealed information, instead promoting the drug as both safe and effective. Indeed, Sanofi has been aware of reports and studies linking Taxotere to permanent hair loss after chemotherapy since as far back as its approval in 1996, lawsuits allege.

If you or someone you love has suffered from permanent hair loss after chemo treatment with Taxotere or another docetaxel medication, you may be able to gain some kind of financial compensation by joining a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit.

Filing a Taxotere hair loss lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering a cancer patient endures, or take away the effects of permanent alopecia after chemo, but it can help compensate for the financial expenses incurred by cancer treatment bills or even lost wages.

The Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-06757-KDE-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.