It was 2013, and the launch of Johnson & Johnson’s drug Invokana ushered in a new class of type 2 diabetes medications known as sodium glucose transport protein (SGLT2) inhibitors that help the kidneys lower blood sugar.
In the years following, Invokana remains the most widely used SGLT2 drug, ahead of Jardiance and Farxiga. In fact, it is currently the 7th most popular prescription med on the market for type 2 diabetes.
And, while recent studies show it may reduce the risk for cardiovascular events, Invokana has been plagued with warnings that it can also increase the chances of serious injuries like Fournier’s Gangrene (genital gangrene), foot or toe amputations, ketoacidosis and kidney damage.
Now, as the FDA Invokana warnings pile up, so too do the lawsuits from those patients who’ve been affected.
In 2015, the first Invokana lawsuit was filed in California on behalf of a woman hospitalized for severe ketoacidosis. By 2016, there were nearly 100 lawsuits pending across the country for similar ketoacidosis or kidney damage injuries.
In order to expedite the justice process, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on December 7, 2016 ordered all federal cases to be consolidated to one special court in New Jersey. This would come to be known as MDL 2750 – IN RE: Invokana (Canagliflozin) Products Liability Litigation.
The consolidation of these cases is important as it allowed easier access to the court and quicker handling of cases for many Invokana injury victims.
According to the JPML, 1,190 lawsuits had been filed in the Invokana MDL as of July 16, 2019. That number may now be over 1,200 as of the writing of this article.
On May 15, 2015, The FDA published a consumer warning for the SGLT2 diabetes drugs Invokana, Jardiance and Farxiga, advising that they had received a higher-than-expected number of reports of patients suffering ketoacidosis or kidney damage.
On December 4, 2015, the agency again warned of ketoacidosis risks with Invokana and other SGLT2 drugs, but added that they may also increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
This was followed in June of 2016 with stronger warnings from the FDA about the risks of kidney damage in those taking Invokana or Farxiga.
Then, on May 16, 2017, the FDA warned of study data showing Invokana may also cause patients to have a greater risk of lower leg amputations due to restricted blood flow, infections, ulcers, gangrene and bone fractures.
Finally, FDA authorities released a new warning on August 29, 2018 that SGLT2 class diabetes drugs like Invokana, Jardiance and Farxiga, might be associated with a rare and dangerous genital gangrene called Fournier’s Gangrene.
As we approach the end of 2019, lawsuits are still being filed for those affected by Invokana, Farxiga and Jardiance. At present, lawyers are investigating claims for those who suffered foot or toe amputation, gangrene in the genital region, and even some cases of bladder and kidney cancer.
In Invokana settlement news, reports indicate Johnson & Johnson will continue to try to settle many of the existing claims in 2019 and into 2020 rather than face the publicity of trials that could damage their market share.
However, there is a limited amount of time to seek compensation. Anyone injured after taking Invokana, Farxiga or Jardiance is urged to speak with a lawyer about their legal options before the time to file expires.
DrugNews works only with law firms that have filed thousands of Invokana and diabetes drug lawsuits. Contact us today to talk with a lawyer about your case at no cost.
Sources:
JPML. Pending MDL Dockets by District. (July 16, 2019). Retrieved from www.jpml.uscourts.gov
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