A recently filed Taxotere lawsuit joins a number of others in the Taxotere multidistrict litigation against Sanofi Aventis and its related companies responsible for the design, manufacture and marketing of the breast cancer treatment drug.

Plaintiff Vicki A., a South Carolina resident, has filed this complaint alleging personal injury that she sustained as a result of breast cancer treatment side effects from the widely-used chemotherapy treatment.

Taxotere is a member of a family of drugs known as taxanes. These drugs are diterpenes that are found in plants of the genus Taxus, also known as yews. Taxotere, known generically as docetaxel, and Taxol, known generically as paclitaxel, are both members of the taxanes family of chemotherapy drugs.

The makers of Taxotere initially sought FDA approval in 1994, and at that time, the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee panel of the FDA unanimously rejected the request for approval of the drug, saying it was more toxic than its competitor Taxol, and that more studies of Taxotere were needed.

Taxotere was ultimately approved by the FDA in 1996, and according to its label it was “indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy.”

The Taxotere lawsuit goes on to state that a number of studies were published after Taxotere was released onto the market and showed that other chemotherapy agents were more efficient, or that there was no difference in the efficacy of the treatment of breast cancer between Taxotere and competing drugs.

Despite the outcome of the studies, the lawsuit claims that the makers of Taxotere “continue to make false and misleading statements promoting the’superior efficacy’ of docetaxel (Taxotere) over the competing product paclitaxel (Taxol).”

Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects from Taxotere

Vicki was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2013. She underwent chemotherapy with Taxotere in May 2013 and suffered severe breast cancer treatment side effects. Vicki says she has permanent alopecia as a result of her use of Taxotere to treat her breast cancer.

While hair loss is expected following a course of chemotherapy, permanent alopecia is not considered one of the typical breast cancer treatment side effects. Losing their hair during chemotherapy and for several months after his hard enough for many women, but women like Vicki who lose their hair permanently have to deal with the consequences of permanent disfigurement and all of the mental and emotional struggles that come along with permanent alopecia.

The Taxotere lawsuit alleges that the makers of Taxotere neglected to fully inform patients, physicians and the medical community of the risks of breast cancer treatment side effects including permanent alopecia that may result from the use of the drug.

The claim also states that the makers of Taxotere did inform patients, physicians and the medical community in Europe and Canada years before a warning was released to American citizens.

Vicki has raised a number of allegations against the Defendants including product liability for negligence, design and manufacturing defects, failure to warn, breaches of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit and extreme and outrageous conduct/intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The plaintiff is seeking a jury trial to determine the amount to be allocated for her injuries, harms and damages, to include special damages, treble damages, costs, expert witness fees, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and any additional relief deemed appropriate, just and proper by the Court.

The Taxotere Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 2:12-cv-02361-KDE-MBN, and is part of the Taxotere MDL In re: Taxotere (docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2740, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.