Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits Granted Federal MDL
All testosterone therapy lawsuits have been consolidated into one multidistrict litigation (MDL) by the Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) due to similarities in injuries and claims against testosterone therapy manufacturers.
The testosterone therapy lawsuits were consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois under the Honorable Matthew F. Kennelly. The MDL was created on June 6th, and gathers “45 actions pending in four districts.”
Testosterone therapy defendants include AbbVie Inc. and Abbott Laboratories, Inc. (Androgel), Lilly USA LLC and Eli Lilly and Co. (Axiron), and Endo Pharmaceuticals (Aveed, Fortesta, and Delatestryl), who all supported the creation of an MDL. Actavis and Auxilium were against the “creation of an all-testosterone therapy MDL.” Pfizer Inc. and Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. wanted an MDL specifically for testosterone gel products.
The MDL transfer reads:
“On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, we find that these actions involve common questions of fact, and that centralization of all actions in the Northern District of Illinois will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. On January 31, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it was ‘investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone products.’ Plaintiffs filed the actions now before us in the wake of this announcement.”
The 45 personal injury lawsuits were consolidated into MDL 2545.
“We are typically hesitant to centralize litigation on an industry-wide basis…In these circumstances, however, we think it is the best solution. Plaintiffs suggest that related cases will number in the thousands. Significantly, in the actions and potential tag-along actions already filed, a number of plaintiffs used more than one testosterone replacement therapy,” read the JPML’s order.
Two of the original testosterone therapy lawsuits, filed in Chicago against AbbVie and Abbott, claim that the companies hid the dangers of testosterone therapy, which led to heart problems, heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots in users, especially men over 50 years old.
A JAMA study, published earlier in January, showed that the 14% of men taking testosterone therapy supplements after undergoing angiography generally appeared slightly healthier and younger than the 86% of men involved in the study who did not receive testosterone therapy. While this can support short-term benefits for the drugs, when the men were followed for three years, those who took testosterone supplements were 30% more likely to have an ischemic stroke, heart attack, or die of other causes, than the control group. In that three year period, 25.7% of men taking the supplement had a heart attack or stroke; in the control group not taking testosterone therapy drugs, only 19.9% suffered these outcomes.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Testosterone Therapy Personal Injury Lawsuits
The Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. is a leader in the consumer protection battle against dangerous prescription drugs and medical devices, from AndroGel to Zoloft. We represent individuals who have been killed or injured by dangerous or defective pharmaceuticals. If you or a family member have been injured or killed after using a dangerous drugs or medical products such as testosterone therapy or supplements, contact our dangerous drug lawyers as soon as possible so that we can begin taking steps to preserve evidence and your claim immediately. We offer free consultations to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800
