Johnson & Johnson and its associates are seeking to displace an Invokana lawsuit filed by a man who alleges the drug caused him to develop diabetic ketoacidosis.

Filed in Pennsylvania federal court, the company is trying to dismiss Plaintiff Matthew L.’s Invokana lawsuit, arguing it contains allegations similar to claims filed in Philadelphia County Court.

The Invokana lawsuit is one of 41 claims filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, and Matthew is one of 39 plaintiffs who does not live anywhere close to the area.

Invokana Lawsuit May be Moved to Texas

Based on the discrepancy of location, Johnson & Johnson and their subsidiaries moved to have the case dismissed so it could be refiled in Texas.

Johnson & Johnson representatives argued that Matthew is most likely trying to keep his Invokana lawsuit in the Philadelphia area in the hopes a coordinated pretrial proceeding will be formed and “that its claims might escape adjudication altogether.”

Regardless of the Matthew’s motives for filing in the county, Johnson & Johnson argues that it needs to be refiled to further convenience for both parties.

“The citizens and courts of Philadelphia County do not need the added burden and expense of adjudicating an Invokana case that plaintiff could have and should have filed in Texas,” Johnson & Johnson said.

Overview of Invokana Diabetic Ketoacidosis

According to his Invokana lawsuit, Matthew took Invokana for his type-2 diabetes and developed diabetic ketoacidosis soon after.

This condition occurs when the chemicals in the blood reach dangerous levels and eventually create ketones, which can cause serious kidney side effects and could potentially result in death.

Invokana is a part of the SGLT2 inhibitor drug family which works by signaling the body to product adequate amounts of insulin so the body can properly process sugar. Without insulin the body cannot properly metabolize glucose and resorts to metabolizing fat, which creates diabetic ketoacidosis.

Even though the drug was approved by the FDA in 2013, it was only two years later that the agency sent out a warning in May 2015 regarding ketoacidosis.

Due to the fact that this drug works directly with metabolism process, Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors have also been linked to serious kidney side effects.

Numerous cases like Matthew’s Invokana lawsuit have been filed, alleging that the drug companies failed to adequately warn them against the drug’s side effects. Matthew and other patients allege the company knew of the risks associated with their product,

This Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 160300269, in the Court of Common Pleas of the State of Pennsylvania, County of Philadelphia.