Johnson & Johnson is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims alleging Invokana amputation risk and other serious drug complications. One of the most recent claims to join the litigation movement was filed by a man alleging the company had failed to warn him against the Invokana amputation risk.

Plaintiff Randy S. alleges he would not have agreed to take the type-2 diabetes medication if he had known about the potential Invokana amputation risk — a diabetic complication the drug is supposed to help prevent.

Invokana is an SGLT2 inhibitor drug, which works by signaling the kidneys to expel excess sugar through urination. By keeping blood sugar levels at a healthy level, the body’s insulin production continues and prevents serious diabetic symptoms.

Insulin is a vital component of the body’s metabolic process, which allows the body to absorb energy and nutrition from food. However, insufficient insulin levels will cause the body to metabolize fat instead of sugar, which causes the blood to become acidic.

This can cause serious health complications like kidney failure or even death, along with allowing other diabetic symptoms to build up. Along with diet and exercise, Invokana is supposed to help type-2 diabetes patients live a normal of life.

With these benefits in mind, Randy says he was prescribed Invokana in February 2017 and alleges he was not aware of the potential Invokana amputation risk.

Even though he followed all prescription instructions, Randy says he developed serious type-2 diabetes ulcers and swelling that eventually forced him to undergo lower limb amputation.

Overview of Invokana Lawsuit

According to the Invokana lawsuit, Randy had to undergo the first amputation procedure on Jan. 3, 2018 in which the first toe on the right foot was removed.

The claim further stated that the entire right foot was removed a month later, and Randy eventually suffered total lower limb amputation of the right leg on March 6, 2018. Randy says he has since been contending with the long lasting consequences of lower limb amputation, and he filed legal action after soon discovering the FDA’s warning of Invokana amputation risk.

The FDA’s warning was released on May 16, 2017, stating that Invokana patients face a significantly higher risk of lower limb amputation compared to other patients. Lower limb amputation is sometimes necessary for type-2 diabetes patients, because the nerves in the legs die and cause swelling or ulcers to form.

Even though the Invokana amputation risk can be devastating to patients, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to warn patients against the possibility. Randy states he would not have agreed to take the medication if he had known about the troubling Invokana amputation risk.

Randy’s Invokana lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging that the company failed to warn patients against Invokana amputation risk.

By joining an MDL, Randy’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Randy is seeking multiple damages in his Invokana lawsuit, including multiple counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Invokana Amputation Risk Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-09725-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.