AndroGel Lawsuit Information
AndroGel is a topical medication intended to restore testosterone levels. The gel has been marketed to men who wish to increase their energy and sex drive. Medical studies now show, however, that AndroGel and other Low T treatments can significantly increase a man’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious side effects. If you or a loved one suffered injuries, you may be eligible to file an AndroGel lawsuit for compensation.
AndroGel Lawsuit Alleges Unnecessary Risk
Many of the men exposed to these side effects may not actually need testosterone treatment in the first place. A certain decrease in testosterone levels is a natural part of the aging process for all men and is not considered an adverse medical condition. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration never approved AndroGel to treat general lifestyle concerns such as energy, mood, libido, agility, or weight gain commonly associated with aging. Rather, the FDA only approved AndroGel and other testosterone therapies to treat diagnosed cases of hypogonadism in conjunction with a specific medical condition that inhibits testosterone production (such as a genetic disorder, brain disorder, or side effects of chemotherapy).
In March 2015, the FDA required that the manufacturers of prescription testosterone products include warnings about an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The FDA also warned consumers that neither the benefits nor safety of these medications has been established for the treatment of age-related low testosterone in the absence of a diagnosed medical condition.
Has There Been an AndroGel Recall?
Despite growing safety concerns, an AndroGel recall has not been issued. While the government announced updated warnings to consumers and healthcare providers, the drug remains on the market and continues to be prescribed. In the absence of an AndroGel recall, men are encouraged to consult their doctors about the risks involved with this type of treatment.
AndroGel Class Action Lawsuit
The lawsuit against AndroGel involves hundreds of cases from around the country with thousands more expected in the future. These claims, however, are not part of an AndroGel class action lawsuit. No such AndroGel class action has been formed in the United States. Rather, each claim is filed as an individual AndroGel lawsuit and litigated according to the unique facts of each case.
These separate AndroGel lawsuits may still be coordinated with one another for certain pretrial purposes. Nearly 4,000 cases have now been centralized in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois (MDL No. 2545). The member cases include lawsuits against AndroGel as well as other low testosterone medications. Additional AndroGel cases are filed in various state courts.
Even though the cases are not structured as an AndroGel class action, they allege similar misconduct by the defendants. Specifically, that the drug manufacturers created a new medical condition called Low T, then sought to “raise awareness” and sell Low T therapy to consumers. The lawsuits further allege that the defendants were aware of an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots, but failed to properly warn patients and their doctors. Other legal grounds include negligence, fraud, and breach of warranties.
Do You Have a Lawsuit Against AndroGel?
We invite men who used AndroGel and experienced stroke, heart attack, blood clots, or other serious medical injuries to contact our office for a legal evaluation. Our drug injury attorneys have represented patients for over 25 years in complex pharmaceutical litigation and provide all consultations at no cost, no obligation.