On January 02, 2018, Parker Waichman LLP announced two new lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson, Co. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Parker Waichman LLP filed two Invokana amputation lawsuits in New Jersey State Court – the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division in Middlesex County against the makers of Invokana.
These lawsuits allege that:
- Invokana is a dangerous drug
- The manufacturers “concealed and continued to conceal” their knowledge of their products’ dangerous amputation risks
- Parker Waichman LLP’s clients sustained catastrophic and permanent injuries, amputations, and/or multiple limb amputations
Invokana Lawsuits Allege Catastrophic Side Effects Resulting in Amputations
The two Invokana amputation Lawsuits filed by Parker Waichman LLP on behalf of their clients have received significant national news reporting in January 2018. Currently, there are approximately 950 cases that allege Invokana or Invokamet has caused catastrophic injuries such as:
- Amputation of toes
- Amputation of feet (whole or partial amputations)
- Amputations of the lower leg (below the knee)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Heart attacks
- Kidney damage
- Strokes
Parker Waichman LLP is Accepting New Clients Who Have Sustained Surgical Amputations Stemming from Invokana or Invokamet, Use
Parker Waichman LLP is a personal injury and products liability law firm that represents the victims of defective medications throughout the United States. Parker Waichman LLP’s skilled products liability lawyers have extensive experience litigating complex drug injury cases against large pharmaceutical companies and their liability insurance companies.
Our law firm has received numerous awards and accolades for quality legal work. Parker Waichman LLP has also obtained over $2 Billion in recoveries for their clients. We welcome you to visit our Client Testimonials and Verdicts and Settlements pages for more information about our results.
If you would like to review your potential case with one of our experienced Invokana attorneys, contact us to schedule your free case consultation. Call us today at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or fill out our online contact form.
What Are Medications Such as Invokana, Invokamet, or Invokamet XR Used For?
Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR are diabetes treatment drugs also known as “SGLT2 inhibitors” or “sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.” Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR are medications that belong to a specific class of “Type 2 diabetes medications” and are used to prevent the kidneys from absorbing glucose. By preventing the kidneys from absorbing glucose, glucose is eliminated from the patient’s body through their urine.
In March of 2013, the first class of these SGLT2 inhibitors, Invokana, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Invokana was the first SGLT2 inhibitor cleared for market and sale throughout the United States. Invokamet was cleared for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August of 2014.
The European Medicines Agency Issues Safety Warnings About the Class of SGLT2 Inhibitors
On February 2017, the (EMA) or European Medicines Agency released a warning to the public regarding the class of SGLT2 inhibitors, including not just canagliflozin [Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR], but also dapagliflozin [Farxiga] and empagliflozin [Jardiance]. The European Medicines Agency warning was prompted by an increase in lower limb amputations reported for patients taking canagliflozin in two then-ongoing clinical trials, but the European Medicines Agency also noted that a similar increase in amputations had not been seen in the other SGLT2 inhibitors, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin. Although the European Medicines Agency warned of all “lower limb” amputation risks, it added that patients who have been prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors (used for type 2 diabetes) are at an increased risk for toe amputations.
The European Medicines Agency recommends that patients who are taking these medications to inspect their feet for ulcers, wounds or discoloration regularly and to follow the instructions provided by their prescribing physician.
Safety Announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Specifically Regarding Invokamet, Invokana, and Invokana XR
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, patients who are prescribed the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor diabetes treatment drug Invokana are at an increased risk for catastrophic side effects such as foot or leg amputations. The safety announcement was published on May 16, 2017 and can be read here.
The FDA made the conclusion based on data collected in the same two intensive clinical trials the EMA reviewed, once those trials has been completed. The Invokana safety warning issued by the FDA includes the following Type 2 Diabetes Medicine “canagliflozin” medications:
- Invokamet
- Invokana
- and Invokamet XR
Both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency recommend to patients who are taking Invokana, Invokamet, or Invokana XR to report any signs of lower limb sores, ulcers, pain, tenderness or discoloration immediately to their doctor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated that the most commonly reported amputation included the toes and the area located in the middle of the foot. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also reiterated that other amputations that have been reported include amputations below the knee and in some cases, amputations were performed on both limbs on the same patient.
Black Box Warnings – The FDA’s Most Prominent Boxed Warning
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requiring the manufacturers of Invokana, Invokamet, or Invokamet XR to add the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s most prominent “Boxed Warning” to alert patients, pharmacies, and healthcare professionals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that healthcare professionals should consider the all associated risk factors that could “predispose” their patients to an amputation prior to prescribing canagliflozin. These “risk factors” include:
- Patients with a previous history of amputations
- Peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy,
- Diabetic foot ulcers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also asking health care providers to monitor their patients, who are taking canagliflozin, for the signs and symptoms as described above and to discontinue the use of canagliflozin should any of these complications or serious ideas effects occur. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requiring all canagliflozin drug labels to include these risks.
For more information about these SGLT2 drugs and the legal services that our firm provides to help you fight for your right to receive the compensation you are legally owed, visit our Invokana Lawsuits page.
Have You or Your Loved One Been Injured by SGLT2 Inhibitors Such as Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR?
At Parker Waichman LLP, our Invokana Lawsuit Attorneys advocate for our clients with intensity. Our law firm is fiercely dedicated to protecting your legal rights. If you or your loved one suffered an injury or amputation and are taking or had been taking the diabetes drug Invokana, call us today for your free consultation. For your free case review, call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or use our contact form.
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Have You or Your Loved One Suffered an Injury or Amputation and are Taking or Had Been Taking The Diabetes Drug Invokana?
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