Dupixent Lawyers Seek Leadership Positions in MDL Over Cancer Risks

Lawyers will help provide equal and fair representation for all plaintiffs filing claims alleging that Dupixent caused them to develop CTCL.

Attorneys pursuing Dupixent cancer lawsuits have proposed appointing 12 lawyers to leadership positions in the consolidated federal litigation, where they would coordinate discovery, motions and other pretrial proceedings on behalf of plaintiffs.

The litigation currently includes 35 product liability lawsuits alleging that Dupixent may cause or worsen cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that primarily affects the skin. Plaintiffs claim Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi-Aventis U.S. knew about the potential cancer risk but did not adequately disclose it to patients or the medical community.

Dupixent Concerns

Dupixent (dupilumab) was initially approved to treat atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, and has since been cleared for several other inflammatory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Questions about the drug’s safety emerged after studies identified a potential association between Dupixent side effects and certain T-cell lymphomas, particularly CTCL. Those concerns are heightened by how CTCL can cause symptoms that resemble eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Dupixent lawsuits allege this overlap may cause doctors and patients to mistake signs of lymphoma for worsening eczema, delaying recognition of the cancer.

Some plaintiffs claim they continued receiving Dupixent injections while their CTCL progressed because they were unaware the medication could potentially cause, worsen or mask signs of the disease.

All federal Dupixent cancer lawsuits are currently consolidated in the District of New Jersey before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Qurashi, who is guiding the litigation through certain pretrial proceedings and the collection of relevant evidence, known as the discovery process.

The judge is expected to eventually order the parties to select several representative claims to serve as early test trials. These “bellwether” trials will put cases before juries for the first time to test how they react to evidence and testimony key to most Dupixent cancer lawsuits.

Dupixent MDL Leadership Appointments

In a joint initial management report (PDF) issued on September 10, attorneys noted that there likely needs to be a plaintiffs’ leadership counsel and other appointments who will be key in choosing bellwether trial cases and making other key decisions on behalf of all plaintiffs.

About two weeks later, on September 28, an unopposed motion (PDF) by plaintiffs’ attorneys proposed the appointment of 12 attorneys to leadership positions in the litigation. The proposal calls for two attorneys being appointed to co-lead counsel, three assigned to an executive committee, six other lawyers for a Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, and one attorney to serve as a federal-state liaison.

The selected attorneys will take certain actions that benefit all plaintiffs, such as conducting discovery and depositions of witnesses, arguing motions before the court and possibly helping negotiate a Dupixent settlement agreement. However, each individual plaintiff will still maintain their own lawyer to meet various deadlines and establish a link between their specific injuries and the medication, as well as negotiate any potential individual Dupixent payout.

The initial management conference is scheduled for today. However, the judge denied attorneys’ requests to appear by telephone at the hearing in a September 28 order. Instead, he stated that counsel who are unable to attend must consult with attorneys who are present.

Dupixent Lawsuits

Individuals who were prescribed Dupixent and subsequently diagnosed with CTCL or another type of T-cell lymphoma may be eligible to pursue compensation through a Dupixent lawsuit.

Dupixent T-cell lymphoma lawyers are offering free consultations to review potential claims and help individuals and families determine whether they may have legal options against the drug manufacturers.

Attorneys are handling these claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees, and costs are only collected if compensation is recovered through a settlement or jury verdict.

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