How Safe Is Invokana?

Millions of people who suffer from type 2 diabetes have been prescribed the drug Invokana as a way to significantly lower their blood sugar (A1C). The drug has become so popular that sales in the U.S. were more than $1.2 billion in 2016. If you have type two diabetes, you might wonder how safe is Invokana? A qualified Invokana lawyer could attempt to help you figure out the answer, and could build a solid personal injury claim for you.

FDA Approval

Invokana is the trade name for canagliflozin, a class of drugs which are referred to as SGLT2 inhibitors. It was first developed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and is now produced and sold by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Janssen filed a New Drug Application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2012. The FDA approved the application less than a year later, in March 2013.

Despite that approval, clinical trials of Invokana showed a sharp increase in the number of lower-limb amputations—leg and foot—for patients who were using the drug. This information caught the attention of both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency, which began their own investigations regarding the safety of Invokana.

In May 2017, the FDA released a black box warning—the agency’s strictest level of warning—about the drug, announcing its conclusion that Invokana did, in fact, cause an increased risk of leg and foot amputations. FDA investigations have also revealed that the drug poses a risk of acute kidney injury.

Janssen’s Liability for Invokana Injuries

When a company introduces a drug to consumers, it is responsible for ensuring that drug is adequately tested. If there are any potential side effects or risks associated with taking the drug, the company is also responsible for warning doctors and patients.

When Janssen Pharmaceuticals introduced Invokana to the public, the company either knew or should have known of these dangerous risks, yet failed to issue those warnings. This failure has led to many patients suffering injuries as a result of taking the drug.

Although the FDA has yet to issue a recall for Invokana, many in the medical and legal communities agree that the dangerous risks associated with the drug could result in more serious injury to the patient than the actual condition it is intended to treat. If someone was prescribed Invokana, they should consider speaking with their doctor about safer alternatives.

Working With an Invokana Attorney

If you believe you have suffered an adverse injury from Invokana, or if you lost a loved one due to injuries associated with the drug, contact a dangerous drug attorney to discuss what legal options may be available to you and your family. If you are wondering how safe is Invokana? An attorney could put you in contact with medical professionals that can answer your questions, and could help you pursue a mass torts case.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation
  • Holland Office
  • West Toledo Office
  • Bowling Green Office
  • Defiance Office
  • Fremont Office
  • Findlay Office
  • Lima Office
  • Saline Office
  • Swanton Office
  • Toledo Office
  • West Unity Office
  • Maumee Office
  • Holland Office
  • West Toledo Office
  • Bowling Green Office
  • Defiance Office
  • Fremont Office
  • Findlay Office
  • Lima Office
  • Saline Office
  • Swanton Office
  • Toledo Office