Plaintiff Karen G. has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey federal court against Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Co., the manufacturers of Invokana, due to suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis complications.

According to the diabetic ketoacidosis complications lawsuit, Karen is a resident and citizen of the state of Florida.

The diabetic ketoacidosis complications lawsuit claims Karen began taking Invokana in 2016.

Sometime later, the diabetic ketoacidosis complications lawsuit states, “[a]s a result of using defendants’ Invokana, plaintiff … was caused to suffer diabetic ketoacidosis and acute renal failure.”

She claims she suffered permanent and severe personal injuries, including emotional distress, pain, and suffering.

The diabetic ketoacidosis complications lawsuit files several counts against the defendant. These counts include: 1) Negligence; 2) Strict Products Liability; 3) Breach of Express Warranty; 4) Breach of Implied Warranties; 5) Fraudulent Misrepresentation; 6) Fraudulent Concealment; 7) Negligent Misrepresentation; 8) Fraud and Deceit; 9) Violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act; 10) Product Liability- Design Defect; 11) Products Liability-Failure to Warn; 12) Product Liability-Manufacturing Defect.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis Complications Lawsuit Facts

Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokanet XR are a class of type-2 diabetes drugs that have been linked with an increased likelihood of diabetic ketoacidosis, foot amputations, and lower limb amputations.

Karen’s claim is filed as part of a large multidistrict litigation, or MDL, centered on allegations that the diabetes medication Invokana causes patients to suffer from serious adverse effects and complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis and amputation.

The diabetic ketoacidosis complications lawsuit maintains that the defendants knew of the significant risks, adverse effects, and complications that may come about from ingesting Invokana. Yet the defendants allegedly failed to adequately and sufficiently inform consumers, the medical community, and the public at large of these risks.

The diabetic ketoacidosis complications lawsuit states that “[d]espite defendants’ knowledge of the increased risk of severe injury among Invokana users, defendants did not warn patients but instead continued to defend Invokana, mislead physicians and the public, and minimize unfavorable findings.”

U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Invokana

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public of taking Invokana and other drugs also classified as part of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.

The FDA has stated in a May 2017 announcement: “Based on new data from two large clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that the type 2 diabetes medicine canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR) causes an increased risk of leg and foot amputations. We are requiring new warnings, including our most prominent Boxed Warning, to be added to the canagliflozin drug labels to describe this risk.”

Karen’s Diabetic Ketoacidosis Complications Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-09377, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Invokana MDL is In re: Invokana (Canagliflozin) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2750, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey