Dupixent Injection Lawsuit Alleges Manufacturer Failed to Warn About T-Cell Lymphoma Cancer Side Effects

Woman had to undergo chemotherapy and total body radiation treatments to fend off the effects of CTCL, a form of cancer that attacks the immune system.

A Louisiana woman has filed a lawsuit indicating that five years of Dupixent injections are responsible for the development of a rare form of cancer that has transformed her life.

Gabrielle Jackson brought the complaint (PDF) in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on May 27. It names Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC as the defendants.

According to Jackson, the side effects of Dupixent led to a form of T-cell lymphoma known as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), which is a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Dupixent Injection Cancer Risks

Originally approved in 2017, Dupixent (dupilumab) was designed to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema. The label has since been greatly expanded, approving Dupixent for the treatment of asthma, chronic sinus inflammation, eosinophilic esophagitis and other conditions. It has become one of the world’s best-selling prescription drugs.

Despite being marketed as safe and effective, a growing number of reports have linked Dupixent side effects with rare T-cell lymphomas like CTCL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), both of which can impact the immune system.

Jackson’s complaint is one of an increasing number of Dupixent injection lawsuits being pursued by individuals nationwide. Plaintiffs claim that the manufacturers knew, or should have known, that the side effects of Dupixent could cause, or exacerbate, T-cell lymphoma, yet failed to provide the medical community or patients with adequate warnings.

Dupixent CTCL Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Jackson began using Dupixent after suffering from a rash that led to her receiving an eczema diagnosis. She received Dupixent injections for five years, before being diagnosed with CTCL in 2022.

To fight her cancer, Jackson has undergone total body skin radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which she says could have been avoided if the drug makers had provided sufficient warnings about the potential cancer risks.

Instead, the lawsuit argues that the defendants intentionally misrepresented both the safety and effectiveness of Dupixent injections, despite reports that should have raised serious concerns.

“Defendants knew or should have known that Dupixent, when taken as prescribed and intended, causes and/or exacerbates T-cell lymphoma, including CTCL. Numerous case reports and scientific studies have established that Dupixent causes T-cell lymphoma, including CTCL, and/or accelerates its progression.”

– Gabrielle Jackson v. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al.

Jackson presents claims of failure to warn, negligence and breach of express warranty. She seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of earnings, mental anguish and emotional distress.

Dupixent Injection Lawsuits

The complaint comes as a panel of federal judges considers a motion by other plaintiffs who are seeking to consolidate all federal Dupixent injection lawsuits before one U.S. District Judge for pretrial proceedings and coordinated discovery. The manufacturers have opposed the motion.

Last week, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) heard oral arguments over Dupixent lawsuit consolidation, and is still weighing a decision at the present time. If the panel agrees to centralize the litigation, a federal judge would likely be assigned to oversee the coordinated proceedings and organize a series of early bellwether trials involving representative cases.

The trials are expected to help the parties evaluate how juries may respond to evidence and testimony that will likely be repeated throughout the litigation. While the outcomes would not be binding on other cases, they may provide a framework for negotiating potential Dupixent injection settlements.

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