Eli Lilly and Endo Pharmaceuticals have reached tentative agreements to settle hundreds of testosterone lawsuits involving Axiron, Testim and other male hormone replacement treatments.
Testim and Axiron Lawsuits Stayed Pending Testosterone Settlement Talks
The claims, which are among more than 6,000 testosterone lawsuits centralized before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in the Northern District of Illinois, where filed on behalf of men who suffered heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) allegedly due to the side effects associated with prescription testosterone replacement therapy.
The proposed Axiron settlement was disclosed in December. While no details of the agreement have been made public, the Court has stayed all proceedings involving Axiron cases until March 31st to facilitate settlement discussions.
The tentative agreement to resolve Testim lawsuits and other claims involving Endo Pharmaceutical’s testosterone products was announced in February. The proposed settlement would also cover claims pending against Endo’s Auxilium subsidiary and GlaxoSmithKline, which co-promoted Testim from 2012 through 2015. In addition to Testim, Endo’s other testosterone replacement drugs include Foresta, Testopel, and Striant.
All testosterone lawsuits involving the Endo defendants have been stayed for 45 days while the parties work to finalize the settlement agreement.
While terms of the proposed Endo testosterone settlement remain confidential, the company recently announced that it had increased its legal reserves by $200 million, in part due to the proposed agreement.
Testosterone-Induced Heart Complications
Prescription testosterone products include:
· Androderm
· AndroGel
· Axiron
· Bio-T-Gel
· Fortesta
· Striant
· Testim
· Testopel
Millions of men have been prescribed these drugs to relieve symptoms associated with age-related drops in testosterone, including low libido, weight gain, fatigue and reduced muscle mass. However, the medications have never been approved for this purpose, and are only indicated to treat men who have been diagnosed with hypogonadism (low testosterone) secondary to another medical condition.
Plaintiffs who have filed testosterone lawsuits claim that sales of AndroGel, Testim and other drugs in this class were driven by misleading advertisements that characterized prescription testosterone replacement therapy as a safe and effective remedy for age-related symptoms. They further claim that the drugs’ manufacturers concealed their association with serious cardiovascular problems and failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about their possible heart risks.
In March 2015, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) required all testosterone drug manufacturers to update their product labels with information about a possible increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The mandate followed the agency’s review of several studies, including one that linked testosterone replacement therapy to a 40% increased risk for heart attack, stroke or death. In men aged 65 and older, the risk more than doubled within the first 90 days of treatment. The risk almost tripled in men under 65 who had a history of heart disease.
Contact an Attorney Today
Gilman Law LLP is aggressively investigating testosterone lawsuits involving heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. For a no-obligation evaluation of your case, or to learn if you might qualify to participate in a potential testosterone settlement, please fill out our free consultation form or call us direct to speak with one of our attorneys at (888) 252-0048
