A new Invokana lawsuit was recently filed in federal court against the pharmaceutical manufacturers Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Johnson & Johnson Co, and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. The lawsuit alleges that the medication’s manufacturers knew or should have known about the dangerous side effects associated with taking Invokana and the defendants failed to warn consumers about these potential side effects.

The lawsuit was filed by Maria P. and her husband Carlos P., residents of the state of Texas. In the Invokana lawsuit, Maria alleges that she suffered severe complications as a result of taking Invokana which included kidney damage and diabetic ketoacidosis as a result of taking the medication.

Maria began taking Invokana in October of 2013 in order to treat her diabetes. Maria began taking the medication in order to reduce her blood sugar. According to the lawsuit she relied on claims made by the medication’s manufacturers that Invokana was a safe and effective treatment for diabetes. Maria alleges that she never would have begun using the diabetes medication if she had been informed of the dangerous risks associated with using the medication.

Maria’s lawsuit alleges claims for product liability, breach of warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment and punitive damages. Her husband Carlos joined the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff in order to bring a loss of consortium claim. A loss of consortium claim is brought for a loss of spousal intimacy or the deprivation of the comfort and enjoyment of the company of one’s spouse. Loss of consortium claims cannot be brought individually and must be connected to another lawsuit.

Invokana, generically known as canagliflozin, is a medication used to treat type-2 diabetes that was introduced to the market in March of 2013. Invokana works by impacting the function of a patient’s kidney  in order to increase the output of sugar excreted in the urine. The medication is known as a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 or a SGLT2.

In its first year on the market over 450 adverse event reports were filed concerning Invokana complications. Then, in May of 2015 the Federal Food and Drug Administration released a drug safety warning announcing its investigation into risks of developing diabetic ketoacidosis while taking Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors. Around this same time, several Invokana lawsuits have been filed against the pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Invokana lawsuits against the above named defendants. Successful plaintiffs may be able to receive compensation for the pain and suffering they have experienced along with compensation for both past and future medical bills. Lawsuits like these also help hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their actions and reminds these companies that they owe consumers a specific duty of care. Deciding to bring a lawsuit is a big decision that should be made after a legal professional as reviewed the facts of your case.

The Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:15-cv-08070-AET-LHG, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Trenton Division.