Canagliflozin, a drug used to treat type 2 or adult-onset diabetes, has come under fire for alleged diabetic ketoacidosis complications. This medication, marketed under the trade names of Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR, has also been implicated in increasing the risk of facing diabetic amputation of toes, feet, and lower limbs.

Invokana lawsuits have been filed in U.S. District Court and streamlined for processing as Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) No. 2750 in the District of New Jersey.

Invokana lawsuits that are part of MDL No. 2750 are grouped together as canagliflozin product liability cases against Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company, Johnson and Johnson.

Over 1,000 Invokana lawsuits have been consolidated in the District of New Jersey for adjudication. Some of the Invokana lawsuits allege diabetic ketoacidosis complications, and others allege diabetic amputations stemming from canagliflozin use.

How does Canagliflozin Work?

Canagliflozin—more commonly known as Invokana—is part of a class of medications which are known as sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors work by stimulating the kidneys to screen extra sugars out of the blood and secrete them through the urine output.

Without the inhibitors active, the kidneys attempt to reabsorb extra glucose back into the bloodstream.

One of the complications reported in conjunction with Invokana is ketoacidosis, a dangerous elevation of acidic compounds in the blood. More commonly found in type-1 diabetics, cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have recently been reported in type-2 diabetes patients who take Invokana.

Invokana lawsuits that allege diabetic ketoacidosis complications refer to serious elevation of these blood acids to such a degree that emergency medical intervention and hospitalization was required.

Symptoms can be anything from a mental fog to severe stomach ailments, including general discomfort, outright pain, and vomiting. Along with the digestive symptoms, a sufferer might have difficulty catching their breath.

The FDA and Invokana

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Invokana for commercial distribution in late March 2013 for the treatment of type-2 diabetes.

The FDA has a database where individuals can report negative situations arising from the use of various medications—the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System—also known as FAERS. In the little over a year between March 2013 and June 2014, 20 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis complications were recorded with FAERS due to SGLT2 inhibitor use.

A year later in May 2015, the FDA’s concerns mounted to such a degree that a drug safety communication was issued. In it, it warned medical professionals and patients to beware of symptoms that might indicate a spike in blood acids if taking a SGLT2 inhibitor such as Invokana.

Bellwether Invokana Lawsuits Slated for 2018

The first bellwether Invokana lawsuits have been slated to begin in September 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The first group of bellwether cases to be heard will be those that allege diabetic ketoacidosis complications and/or kidney injury.

There are six cases chosen by the plaintiffs and six cases chosen by the defendants that are ideally representative of these reported Invokana risk factors that are included in the first group of cases.

The next bellwether group to be organized under MDL No. 2750 will be six cases of alleged cardiovascular injury related to Invokana. No movement has been made as yet to group cases involving diabetic amputation.