Invokana Lawsuits Mount, As Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes New Filings in New Jersey Federal Court

April 11, 2016 - Two new Invokana lawsuits (http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/invokana/kidney-failure/) were filed last month in New Jersey federal court on behalf of individuals who allegedly suffered kidney damage due to their use of the Type 2 diabetes medication, Bernstein Liebhard LLP reports. According to court documents, both cases were filed on March 30th in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, and accuse the drug's manufacturers of failing to warn patients about the serious side effects potentially associated with Invokana.

One of the complaints was filed on behalf of an Alabama resident who claims to have taken Invokana for more than a year and a half before he developed kidney damage. (3:16-cv-01787-MAS-LHG). The second case was filed on behalf of a South Carolina man who allegedly suffered a stroke and kidney damage after he was prescribed Invokana in April 2013. He died in June 2013. (3:16-cv-01786-MAS-DEA). Both lawsuits assert that the complications experienced by these individuals were the direct and proximate result of Invokana.

"Our Firm continues to hear from people who claim to have suffered serious complications, including ketoacidosis and kidney damage, allegedly related to to their use of Invokana and similar Type 2 diabetes drugs. It is not surprising that the litigation involving this medication is growing," says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is now evaluating product liability claims on behalf of Type 2 diabetes patients who were allegedly injured as result of Invokana or similar medications.

Invokana Side Effects
Invokana (canagliflozin) belongs to a class of Type 2 diabetes drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The medication is marketed by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit and was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2013. Invokana was the first SGLT2 inhibitor cleared by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes. Others subsequently approved by the agency included Invokamet, Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Jardiance, and Glyxambi.

In March 2015, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) revealed that canagliflozin had been named in 457 FDA adverse event reports its first year on the market. Of those, more than 50 involved cases of renal impairment or kidney failure. The ISMP questioned whether the clinical benefits offered by canagliflozin outweighed its potential risks.

In December 2015, the labels for Invokana and other SGLT2 inhibitors were updated to note a potential association with diabetic ketoacidosis. The FDA mandated the label modifications after its adverse event database logged 73 reports of the condition in patients taking the medications from March 2013 to May 2015. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when toxic acids called ketones accumulate in the blood. Untreated, the condition may lead to diabetic coma or death. The FDA is now recommending that patients stop taking their SGLT2 inhibitor and seek medical attention immediately if they develop any symptoms of ketoacidosis, including: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, and trouble breathing.

The December 2015 FDA communication also noted that new information regarding serious urinary tract infections would be added to the labels of all SGLT2 inhibitors. According to the FDA, it database received 19 reports of life-threatening blood infections (urosepsis) and kidney infections (pyelonephritis) that started as urinary tract infections among SGLT2 inhibitor patients from March 2013 through October 2014. All resulted in hospitalization, and a few patients required admission to an intensive care unit or dialysis in order to treat kidney failure. Patients using these medications should contact their doctor if they experience burning upon urination, need to urinate frequently or right away, pain in the lower stomach, or blood in the urine.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is currently evaluating potential Invokana lawsuits on behalf of Type 2 diabetics who allegedly suffered serious complications, including kidney problem or ketoacidosis, while using this drug or any other SGLT2 inhibitor. To learn more, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website, or call the Firm directly at 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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Contact Information:
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
info (at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com
http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/
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