Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) consisting of claims revolving around the type-2 diabetes drug Invokana.

One of the most recent Invokana lawsuits comes from a Georgia man who alleges he had to undergo below knee amputation as a result of the type-2 diabetes drug Invokana.

Plaintiff Daniel B. says he had been prescribed the type-2 diabetes drug Invokana for typical treatment purposes, but later sustained serious injury including the need for below knee amputation. Daniel was prescribed Invokana in December 2015, after he and his physicians reviewed marketing materials provided by the company.

He says he used Invokana according to prescription instructions and did not deviate from physician advice. Daniel was also prescribed Invokamet in June 2016, which shares the same core ingredient canagliflozin.

However, just a month after this prescription started, Daniel says he was hospitalized for an ulcer that developed on his left foot. Daniel developed swelling, fluid retention, and abscess formation due to an open wound on his left foot. The condition worsened to the point where Daniel was forced to undergo multiple operations on his foot, and below knee amputation on June 2, 2017.

Prior to his left foot being amputated, Daniel also had to get one of his toes on his right foot removed in August 2015. Daniel has since had to contend with the consequences of below the knee amputation, and opted to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson after hearing there was an increased risk of this occurrence with the diabetes drug Invokana.

Overview of Invokana Complications

The type-2 diabetes drug Invokana was released into the market in March 2013, and was touted to be an innovative method for treatment to control their blood sugar levels. Invokana is part of the SGLT2 inhibitor drug class, which works by expelling excess sugar through urination.

The medication has been implicated in numerous cases of diabetic ketoacidosis. Type-2 diabetes patients have a number of adverse symptoms to be wary of, with insulin management and below knee amputation included.

Below knee amputation is a significant risk for type-2 diabetes patients, due to nerve damage and swelling in the feet and legs. If allowed to progress, ulcers can form and amputation may be the only reasonable treatment method for patients. The risk of below knee amputation in conjunction with Invokana and Invokamet was described in a recent FDA warning on May 16, 2017.

The FDA also warned patients may be at higher risk if they suffer from: peripheral vascular disease, nerve damage, or diabetic foot ulcers, or prior diabetes amputation.

Daniel is filing this Invokana lawsuit in MDL No. 2750, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining an MDL, Daniel’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid issues like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Daniel states he would not have taken the type-2 diabetes drug Invokana, if he had known of the increased risk of below knee amputation.

This Invokana Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00993-BRM-LHG, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, Trenton Division.