A new Invokana lawsuit alleges a patient developed Invokana ketoacidosis and diabetic ketoacidosis complications after taking the diabetes drug.

Filed in U.S. District Court on Nov. 27, 2017 in New Jersey, the Invokana ketoacidosis lawsuit was initiated by plaintiff Lawrence B. of Texas against the following named defendants: Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Janssen Research and Development LLC, Johnson & Johnson, and Janssen Ortho LLC.

All the defendants are related in business, with Janssen agencies being wholly-owned subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson. Together they are responsible for the development, manufacturing, promotion, and distribution of Invokana, a medicine used to treat type-2 diabetes.

What is Invokana and its History?

Invokana, a brand name medication whose active ingredient is canagliflozin, is a drug developed by the defendants used to treat adult-onset diabetes, also known as Type 2 diabetes. Invokana is in a category of medications used to treat this condition that relatively new, known as glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.

SGLT-2 is a human protein that encourages the kidneys to reabsorb glucose back into the bloodstream. SGLT-2 inhibiting drugs prevent this process by discouraging reabsorption, allowing for the elimination of extra blood sugar through urine. However, the extra strain on the kidneys with this process has allegedly contributed to Invokana ketoacidosis and diabetic ketoacidosis complications.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Invokana for the treatment of type-2 diiabetes in August 2014. The drug oversight agency required that the defendants follow up with several post-marketing studies to check for its effects on the heart, pancreas, liver and skeletal system, along with other tests.

This testing was outlined in the Invokana ketoacidosis lawsuit, but there was no mention of further studies for Invokana’s effects on the kidneys like diabetic ketoacidosis complications and acute kidney injury.

The Plaintiff’s Story

Lawrence B., the plaintiff, started taking Invokana in May of 2015. At the start of his treatment, he had type-2 diabetes, was obese and had high blood pressure. By December of that year, he was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Invokana ketoacidosis and diabetic ketoacidosis complications, as well as acute kidney injury.

Lawrence alleges that these injuries happened as a direct consequence of taking Invokana. He also alleges that the defendants knew the potential of this drug to cause diabetic ketoacidosis complications but did not do enough to warn the medical community or patients. They supposedly continued to promote the treatment as safe to use and, in fact, encouraged physicians to use it “off label” to control hypertension and encourage weight loss.

He is bringing five counts against the defendants as follows: Failure to Warn, Negligence, Breach of Implied Warranty, Breach of Express Warranty, and Fraudulent Misrepresentation. Lawrence is asking for a trial by jury, compensatory damages to reimburse him for all lost wages, attorney’s fees and court costs, and injuries sustained.

The Invokana Diabetic Ketoacidosis Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-12073-BRM-LHG in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.