A New Mexico woman with cancer has filed a lawsuit against Sanofi Aventis, alleging that she suffered hair loss after chemotherapy from Taxotere, a chemotherapy drug prescribed to treat advanced-stage breast cancer.

Plaintiff Marlene P. says she began chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere on March 12, 2011, and continued treatment through May 4 that year. She alleges her resulting hair loss has yet to resolve.

Hair loss after chemotherapy is a common and well-known side effect of chemotherapy, and many women are aware that alopecia or hair loss may occur as a result. Women generally expect their hair to eventually grow back once their chemotherapy treatment is completed.

However, what women like Marlene may not expect is that they could suffer from permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

Marlene, along with many other women, alleges that after being prescribed Taxotere, they have suffered and will continue to suffer from permanent hair loss after chemotherapy.

Marlene alleges that the extent of her alleged injuries from Taxotere includes past and future medical expenses; permanent disfigurement, including permanent alopecia; mental anguish; and severe and debilitating emotional distress.

Marlene filed the hair loss after chemotherapy lawsuit on Dec. 19, 2017, in Louisiana federal court. She filed the lawsuit on multiple counts including failure to warn, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and fraud and deceit.

The hair loss after chemotherapy lawsuit joins a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company, which alleges consumers were not adequately informed of the risk of permanent hair loss side effects due to taking Taxotere.

Hair Loss After Chemotherapy Lawsuit Joins MDL

Women like Marlene who have filed permanent hair loss after chemotherapy lawsuits allege Taxotere caused them to develop disfiguring hair loss and that they were never adequately warned of this adverse side effect.

Allegations against Sanofi purport the drug maker knew or should have known that Taxotere causes permanent hair loss after chemotherapy and should have provided sufficient forewarnings.

Other allegations accuse the company of insufficiently testing Taxotere, negligently designing and manufacturing Taxotere, selling a defective and unsafe product, and causing patients to develop permanent hair loss after chemotherapy as a result of Sanofi’s acts and omissions.

Taxotere

Taxotere (docetaxel) is a widely-used chemotherapy drug manufactured by Sanofi Aventis. According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH), Taxotere was approved for the treatment of breast cancer on Aug. 18, 2004. In addition to its treatment of breast cancer, it is also approved for treatment of advanced stomach cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer.

Taxotere is part of a family of drugs known as taxanes and is typically used in combination with other medications. Taxotere fights off cancer by being an anti-mitotic agent, or one that prevents cells from dividing.

In addition to permanent hair loss after chemotherapy side effects, other side effects include constipation, diarrhea, bone or muscle pain, infection, low red blood cell count (anemia), and mouth or throat sores.

Permanent hair loss after chemotherapy from Taxotere is a very real side effect for many women and one that has proved to be very devastating. Several studies have shown results in Taxotere causing permanent hair loss after chemotherapy affecting all body hair, even eyelashes and eyebrows.

For example, a study published in the Annals of Oncology followed 20 white Caucasian women treated with Taxotere. Researchers found that 19 of the women suffered from permanent hair loss after chemotherapy. Results of the study stated that “[n]o spontaneous regrowth of the scalp hair was noted. Treatment including vitamins … proved to be ineffective.”

The Hair Loss After Chemotherapy Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-17463, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The Taxotere MDL is In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2740, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.