Sanofi Aventis is facing a growing multidistrict litigation from numerous patients alleging permanent Taxotere hair loss.

One of the most recent Taxotere hair loss lawsuits comes from a Georgia couple alleging the chemotherapy drug had caused the wife permanent hair loss. The couple alleges the company had known about potentially permanent Taxotere hair loss for years but failed to disclose this information to the public.

Plaintiffs Shelia J. and Curtis J. are conjointly filing this Taxotere hair loss lawsuit, alleging the permanent hair loss has severely impacted their relationship. Like many other women, Shelia had been prescribed Taxotere to treat her breast cancer.

She agreed to the chemotherapy treatment regime after reviewing the decision with her oncologist, and had began a strict treatment regime. At this time, Shelia had also relied on Taxotere marketing materials provided by Sanofi Aventis.

According to the Taxotere hair loss lawsuit, Shelia had been on Taxotere between Oct. 9, 2002 and Dec. 11, 2002 and had developed hair loss at some point during the treatment.

Overview of Taxotere Hair Loss

While hair loss is not uncommon in chemotherapy treatment, permanent alopecia is unusual and should not be a typical risk for breast cancer patients. Chemotherapy treatment works by targeting rapidly reproducing cells. This makes hair follicles primary targets and are often among the first groups of cells attacked.

The Taxotere warning label led patients to believe their hair would grow back, according to the master complaint for the Taxotere multidistrict litigation. The label reportedly did not mention potentially permanent Taxotere hair loss. At the same time, the FDA had received reports of permanent Taxotere hair loss.

The FDA eventually issued a label change order on Taxotere in December 2015, stating that a number of patients reported developing permanent hair loss.

Previously, European health officials had Taxotere’s warning label update to include this possibility years earlier. It was not until recently that the warning was provided to United States patients, with many alleging Sanofi Aventis knew of possible permanent Taxotere hair loss for years. Plaintiffs believe the company may have concealed this information, allegedly to protect the drug’s profit margin.

Taxotere has been on the market since the 1990s, with the FDA granting the drug approval for breast cancer treatment. Since its approval, Taxotere has been approved to treat other cancers and has been prescribed to millions of patients.

At all times relevant, Shelia had only used Taxotere for its intended purpose and did not intake the medication outside of her chemotherapy treatment sessions. Shelia and her husband Curtis are filing legal action for multiple damages, including negligence and failure to warn.

Shelia states she never would have opted for the chemotherapy drug if she had known about potentially permanent Taxotere hair loss.

Curtis and Shelia’s Taxotere hair loss lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2740, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining an MDL, their Taxotere hair loss lawsuit will avoid problems like conflicting judge rulings and will be processed through litigation at a quicker pace.

This Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-09375-KDE-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.