Taxotere Lawsuit

Taxotere lawsuits claim that Sanofi-Aventis, the manufacturer of Taxotere failed to warn both physicians and patients of the increased risks of permanent hair loss (alopecia) after using the chemotherapy drug. While temporary hair loss is a common side effect of many chemotherapy drugs, hair loss in patients who have received Taxotere has proven to be permanent in many cases.

What Is Taxotere?

Taxotere (docetaxel anhydrous) is chemotherapy drug developed and approved of to prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing in patients with advanced or metastasized breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and head/neck cancer. Taxotere is administered intravenously and is a member of a classification of drugs referred to as taxanes.

Taxanes are diterpenes produced by the plants of the genus Taxus (yews) featuring a taxadiene core. Taxanes are widely used as chemotherapy agents and include paclitaxel (Taxol) and Taxotere. Taxane agents also exist as cabazitaxel and in generic forms as well. Paclitaxel (Taxol), which was developed, and distributed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and is the main competitor drug to Taxotere, was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 1992. Taxotere was approved by the FDA in 1996 and is alleged to have been marketed by drug maker Sanofi Aventis and its related companies and predecessors as a superior treatment to Taxol.

Risks Of Taking Taxotere

As with other chemotherapy drugs, Taxotere has several side effects that patients may experience. Side effects experienced may include the following:

• Weakness
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Constipation
• Fatigue and weakness
• Fluid retention and swelling
• Low red blood cell count (anemia)
• Low white blood cell count
• Nausea
• Permanent hair loss

Studies of patients who had received Taxotere revealed that 6 to 10 percent of individuals taking the drug risk developing alopecia, which ultimately leads to complete hair loss throughout the entire body. As there is no known cure for alopecia, both the emotional and physical damages experienced by patients who have taken the drug will last a lifetime. The risks of permanent hair loss while taking Taxotere was never disclosed to patients prior to treatment, who could have taken other effective anti-cancer drugs which carried zero risk of permanent hair loss.

Contact The Kagan Law Firm Today

If you have experienced hair loss that has not grown back following the completion of chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere for two months or longer, you may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. We urge you to take action and contact our office immediately to review your case.

At the Kagan Law Firm, we specialize in defective medical drug and device cases and welcome the opportunity to help you recover compensation for damages incurred as a result of receiving Taxotere. To discuss your case with an attorney, please contact our office directly at (239) 466-1161. Additionally, you may also fill out the form below and an attorney will contact you once your inquiry is received.

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