Sanofi Aventis is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims from Taxotere patients alleging persistent hair loss after chemo. One of the most recent Taxotere lawsuits comes from a couple from South Carolina, who allege the wife developed persistent hair loss after chemo and has been unable to regrow it.

Plaintiff couple Karen A. and Bryan A. opted to file legal action against Sanofi Aventis, alleging the company either knew or should have known that Taxotere (docetaxel) could cause persistent hair loss after chemo. Like numerous other women, Karen had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was given several treatment options from her oncologist.

Karen’s oncologist had recommended Taxotere, with Sanofi’s marketing statements describing the drug as a safe and effective chemotherapy option. It is important to note that the Taxotere warning label specifically stated that patients’ hair “generally grows back” at the time it was prescribed to Karen.

With these benefits in mind, Karen began her Taxotere prescription on Aug. 5, 2014, and stayed on the drug until Nov. 18, 2014. During the course of her treatment, Karen lost her hair. However, she reportedly developed persistent hair loss after chemo and has not been able to regrow it.

Overview of Taxotere Hair Loss

Taxotere entered the United States market in the 1990s, and was originally approved for breast cancer treatment. While this drug has since been approved to treat other cancers, Taxotere remains a primary choice for breast cancer patients.

However there have been numerous complaints regarding persistent hair loss after chemo from Taxotere patients, with many of them alleging Sanofi Aventis knew their drug could cause permanent hair loss.

The FDA eventually ordered a label change for Taxotere’s warning label in December 2015, with the agency ordering Sanofi Aventis to state that cases of permanent alopecia had been reported from patients. It has been alleged that Sanofi Aventis knew that Taxotere could cause permanent hair loss for years, based on the fact that the European label received the same warning years earlier.

Hair loss is fairly common in chemotherapy treatment as the drugs work by targeting rapidly reproducing cells. This makes hair follicles one of the first groups of cells targeted, which often results in hair loss. While patients can typically expect their hair to regrow after chemotherapy is completed, that has allegedly not been the case with Taxotere patients.

Even though permanent alopecia can be devastating for these cancer patients, Sanofi Aventis allegedly failed to warn the general public. At all times relevant, Karen says she only used Taxotere for its intended purposes and had only had the drug implemented during professionally monitored chemotherapy treatment sessions.

Karen says she had no reason to believe or be wary of persistent hair loss after chemo, and only discovered that Taxotere could cause alopecia after the drug’s warning label was updated.

Karen and Bryan’s Taxotere lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2740, where it will stand alongside other claims also alleging persistent hair loss after chemo. By joining an MDL, Karen’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation movement and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

This Taxotere Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-03851, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Louisiana.