A consumer recently filed a Invokana lawsuit, alleging that the diabetes medication can lead to diabetic toe amputation.

Plaintiff Barry H. recently filed an Invokana lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc and Johnson & Johnson Co, alleging that the type-2 diabetes medication caused him to suffer a diabetic toe amputation.

Barry says he was prescribed Invokana in August 2016. In August 2017, while taking Invokana, he alleges he suffered from osteomyelitis, kidney injury, diabetic toe amputation of three toes, upper extremity deep vein arthritis, shoulder septic arthritis, and lumbar discitis.

Barry claims that his diabetic toe amputation caused him to suffer injuries including pain and suffering, diminished enjoyment of life, and the need for lifelong medical treatment. He also claims that he suffered financial damage in medical expenses and loss of wages.

“The development of [Barry’s] injuries was preventable and resulted directly from Defendants’ failure and refusal to conduct proper safety studies, failure to properly asses and publicize alarming safety signals, suppression of information revealing serious and life-threatening risks, willful and wanton failure to provide adequate instructions, and willful misrepresentations concerning the safety of Invokana,” the lawsuit claims.

“Had Defendants properly disclosed the risks associated with Invokana, [Barry] would have avoided the risks of developing the injuries […] by not ingesting Invokana.”

Invokana was approved for use as a treatment of type-2 diabetes in March 2013, becoming the first drug in its class to gain FDA approval. Before the drug’s release, it was aggressively marketed as a better alternative to other, similar diabetes medication. These marketing materials allegedly did not contain any warnings about ketoacidosis or serious infections.

Invokana is a SGLT2 inhibitor which inhibits glucose reabsorption in the kidneys to lower blood glucose. As a result, a significant portion of glucose is not metabolized and is instead secreted through the kidneys.

Because Invokana processes glucose out of the blood through the kidneys, a patient on Invokana allegedly is at risk for diminished kidney function. Allegedly, this can lead to ketoacidosis, circulation problems, and a lowered ability to fight infections. This means that patients on the drug are more likely to develop diabetic ulcers which are less likely to heal and are more likely to lead to diabetic toe amputation.

Barry claims that the drug manufacturers knew or should have known the risks associated with Invokana, including diabetic toe amputation.

“In respect to the FDA, physicians, and consumers, Defendant downplayed, understated, or disregarded knowledge of the serious permanent side effects and risks associated with the use of Invokana, despite available information that Invokana was likely to cause serious side effects and/or complications,” the lawsuit states.

Barry accuses the manufacturers of negligence, strict products liability, breach of warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, and violation of state consumer protection laws. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, exemplary damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-08731-BRM-LHG and is part of the Invokana MDL, In re: Invokana (canagliflozin) Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 3:16-md-2750, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.