There are more than 1,300 testosterone lawsuits filed in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Illinois. These men – the plaintiffs - have suffered serious health complications, such as heart attacks and strokes, after taking testosterone replacement therapy.
Allegations include:
- The manufacturers engaged in an aggressive advertising campaign to convince men they might be suffering from low testosterone.
- The drug manufacturers misrepresented the supplements as safe and effective, when in fact they could be responsible for numerous cardiac events.
According to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation documents, there are currently 1,382 lawsuits consolidated in MDL 2545. This is a significant growth from just two months prior, when there were only 1,172 lawsuits filed. More lawsuits are expected to be filed in the next several months as men learn about the serious complications associated with using low-testosterone drugs and the deceptive marketing that testosterone manufacturers used to rake in billions.
Who are the defendants?
Who are the defendants in this national testosterone class action lawsuit?
The defendants named in the MDL include:
- AbbVie, Inc
- Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- Actavis, Inc
- Endo Pharmaceuticals
- GlaxoSmithKline
Should Testosterone Supplements Include a Black Box Warning?
In February 2014, Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog, asked the FDA to add a black box warning to testosterone supplement labeling. The FDA denied that petition, claiming it would continue to assess potential cardiovascular risks and that there was insufficient data at the time to warrant a black box warning. AbbVie representatives claim there is no evidence to suggest a causal relationship between testosterone supplements and cardiovascular problems.
The FDA Answers Concerns
On March 3, 2015, the FDA addressed concerns over testosterone replacement therapy and the significant medical risks associated with using these products. They noted that manufacturers of prescription testosterone products must change their labels to show the approved uses of testosterone drugs ONLY. The label must also warn about the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
This warning comes after several studies raised concerns about low-T drugs, such as Testim and Androgel. In particular, a 2014 study found that men younger than 65 years old with a preexisting heart condition were 2x more likely to experience a heart attack than those men not taking low-T drugs. This study involved 55,000 men in the United States and they found that in the first 90 days after beginning hormone therapy, 1 in 167 men aged 65 or older suffered a heart attach. In contrast, 1 in 100 men under the age of 65 with pre-existing heart disease suffered a heart attack.
Contact Our National Low Testosterone Drug Lawyers
If you or someone you love suffered serious health complications (such as a stroke or heart attack) after taking a testosterone supplement, contact the Philadelphia class action lawyers from Golomb Legaltoday. We’re ready to stand up and fight for your rights and the money you need and deserve.