Product News and Recalls

Testosterone Lawsuits Top 2,000 in Illinois MDL

testosterone therapy lawsuit tops 2000 in Illinois mdlTestosterone lawsuits filed as part of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois are now in excess of 2,000, according to the MDL web page. The number is up from 1,500 two months ago. The testosterone MDL was established in June 2014, and initially included eight separate testosterone lawsuits. Plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits in the MDL claim that testosterone therapy companies like AbbVie and Eli Lilly & Co. manufactured and sold products that led men taking them to suffer serious health problems including stroke, heart attack, and death.

Testosterone therapy products marketed to regulate hormone levels in men with “low testosterone”, or “Low-T.” Popular brands include Androgel, Axiron, Fortesta, Striant, and Testim. Testosterone therapy companies gross billions of dollars annually, and it is estimated that over two million men use testosterone products each year. Despite their popularity, however, testosterone therapy products have been shown to pose significant health risks to those who use them.

Several studies have linked testosterone therapy to heightened risk of cardiovascular problems. A study from November 2013 associated testosterone therapy products with increased rates of heart attack, stroke, and death. Another study published in 2014 analyzed the risk of myocardial infarction in over 55 thousand testosterone drug patients. The results of the study showed an increased risk of myocardial infarction in all men using testosterone therapy, especially in users 65 years and older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged the literature on the risks of testosterone therapy. In January 2014, the agency issued a Drug Safety Communication alerting doctors and patients to a potential link between testosterone therapy products and cardiovascular problems. Later that year, the FDA began requiring that all testosterone therapy products on the market carry a warning about the general risk of blood clotting.

The number of testosterone therapy lawsuits in the MDL is expected to increase as the year progresses. Consult your doctor or physician about any health concerns you may have. If you or someone close suffered a stroke, heart attack, or other severe injury while using a prescription testosterone therapy product, contact Lopez McHugh today for a free consultation with one of our experienced testosterone lawyers. Our attorneys can help you determine if a testosterone lawsuit is right for you.