Amid growing concerns about the potential side effects of testosterone products like AndroGel, approximately 1,100 lawsuits have been filed against the makers of potentially dangerous low-T products, with at least 714 cases involving alleged injuries from AndroGel testosterone gel.

According to AndroGel maker AbbVie, a growing number of testosterone product lawsuits are being brought against the drug company over injuries from its low-T therapy drug, which is the best-selling testosterone replacement therapy medication on the market today. In October 2014, there were 351 testosterone drug claims pending against all testosterone drug makers, with 244 of the cases involving AndroGel.

Potential Risks of Low-T Therapy

Testosterone therapy drugs like AndroGel are designed to treat low testosterone levels associated with a condition known as hypogonadism, which is characterized by diminished functional activities of the testes. However, some men are being prescribed testosterone therapy medications to combat low-t associated with the natural aging process, putting them at unnecessary risk for potentially life-threatening testosterone side effects.

According to two studies published in November 2013 and January 2014, AndroGel and other testosterone products may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death for older men with pre-existing heart conditions, younger men with heart disease, and men over 65 with no prior heart conditions.

Testosterone Lawsuits Consolidated in Federal MDL

In June 2014, all testosterone therapy lawsuits filed in federal courts across the United States were centralized for coordinated pretrial proceedings as part of a low-t drug MDL regardless of which medications were used by plaintiffs or which drug manufacturers were involved in the cases, and will be presided over by U.S. District Judge Matthew out of the Northern District of Illinois.

All of the complaints involve similar allegations that the drug manufacturing companies failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers and the medical community about the potential for testosterone replacement therapy to put men at risk for serious testosterone side effects, including heart attack, pulmonary embolism, stroke and deep vein thrombosis.

Judge Kennelly has ordered some AndroGel cases to go before juries, known as “bellwether” cases, with a series of six trials scheduled between October 2016 and April 2017.

These early trial dates are beneficial in mass tort defective pharmaceutical and product liability medical device cases to help the parties determine how juries may respond to similar evidence and testimony that is presented throughout the litigation.

If estimates are correct, there will ultimately be thousands of low-t drug lawsuits filed on behalf of men who used low-T drugs like AndroGel and suffered heart attacks and other serious injuries.