Sanofi Aventis is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) from women alleging their chemotherapy drug had caused them permanent hair loss. These women allege their permanent hair loss after chemotherapy was directly caused by breast cancer treatment drug Taxotere, and they claim the company failed to disclose this potential side effect.

One of the most recent additions to the MDL comes from a Texas woman, who also alleges permanent hair loss after chemotherapy. After plaintiff Sheila T. had been diagnosed with breast cancer, she had gone over different treatment options with her oncologist and had ultimately been prescribed a chemotherapy schedule with Taxotere.

According to her Taxotere lawsuit, Sheila had used Taxotere from Nov. 6, 2013 to March 1, 2014 on a strict supervised schedule from her oncologist. During this time, Sheila had reportedly developed hair loss after chemotherapy and has since been unable to grow her hair back.

Sheila has had to use wigs to cover her hair loss and will be reportedly be required to undergo hair transplant surgery to replenish her hair loss after chemotherapy.

Overview of Taxotere Permanent Hair Loss Problems

Taxotere has been on the market since its approval in the mid 1990s. This drug has since been approved to treat a variety of cancers, but is still most popularly used to treat breast cancer.

Even though this drug has helped many patients get through their cancer ailments, Taxotere has been allegedly causing permanent hair loss after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy works by targeting rapidly-reproducing cells in the body, making hair follicles primary targets for the chemicals to attack.

Even though hair loss after chemotherapy is expected, it is rare for permanent alopecia to occur during this treatment process. According to plaintiffs in the Taxotere MDL, the Taxotere warning label states that hair “generally grows back”, and that Sanofi Aventis had known for years about Taxotere permanent hair loss.

This is due to the fact that European Taxotere warning labels included a warning for potential permanent hair loss, years before that warning was printed on U.S. labels. The FDA warned against permanent Taxotere hair loss in December 2015, warning that cases of permanent alopecia had been reported.

Even though the possibility of permanent hair loss after chemotherapy can be a devastating side effect to patients, plaintiffs say Sanofi Aventis did not warn patients against the side effect. Sheila states that she never would have used Taxotere if she had known the risks.

This Taxotere Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-03855-KDE-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.