Lawyers Propose Dupixent Lawsuit Be Set for Trial After Dec. 6, 2027

Counsel for the plaintiff warns that more Dupixent lawsuits over the development of T-cell lymphoma are likely coming, which are expected to be consolidated into a federal MDL (multidistrict litigation).

Parties involved in a wrongful death lawsuit claiming that Dupixent caused a fatal case of T-cell lymphoma are scheduled to meet with the judge appointed to preside over the case for the first time next week, indicating in recent filings that they do not expect the case to be ready to go before a jury until at least late 2027.

Chandra Richardson of Tennessee filed one of the first of what is widely expected to be a wave of Dupixent lawsuits in October, alleging that her mother, Cynthia Hyde, died from a rare form of T-cell lymphoma after receiving injections.

The drug was supposed to treat Hyde’s atopic dermatitis when she started the injections in May 2024. However, her daughter claims the drug was responsible for her cancer death, just months later in October 2024.

Dupixent (dupilumab) was approved in 2017 as a Regeneron and Sanofi-Aventis treatment for various diseases that affect the skin and respiratory system, including inflammation and asthma. Patients are given injections of the drug every two to four weeks, and it has grown to become a top selling product in recent years.

While the manufacturers marketed the medication as a safe and effective treatment option, concerns have emerged over the past year about the risk that Dupixent side effects may cause T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer that affects white blood cells. Specifically, Dupixent has been linked to increased risks of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), the version blamed for Hyde’s death.

The parties were scheduled to meet on December 9 for an initial Dupixent lawsuit status conference before U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson and Magistrate Judge Alistair E. Newbern in the Middle District of Tennessee. However, due to scheduling conflicts the conference was rescheduled (PDF) to December 17.

In advance of the scheduled conference, the parties filed a joint proposed initial case management order (PDF) on December 3, outlining each side’s theory of the case, as well as a proposed schedule for conducting pretrial discovery and preparing the lawsuit to go before a jury.

In the filing, Richardson’s attorneys called for conducting discovery on all issues simultaneously, with the anticipation of more Dupixent lawsuits being filed in the coming months. They indicate that there are likely to be enough claims brought on behalf of individuals nationwide that the federal court system will eventually elect to consolidate the claims as part of a federal Dupixent MDL (multidistrict litigation), transferring the cases to one U.S. District Judge for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.

Defendants proposed that the discovery be limited, first dealing with preemption discovery, which would be restricted to core regulatory files.

While Richardson and the manufacturers disagree on a number of key dates in preparing the claim for trial, the parties agree that the case will not be ready before December 6, 2027.

Dupixent Lawsuits

Other legal experts agree that Richardson’s wrongful death claim is probably one of the first of what is expected to be numerous Dupixent lawsuits, as additional users and families learn that the widely marketed treatment may be responsible for causing or accelerating the development of T-cell lymphoma.

These claims are expected to mirror broader allegations that the manufacturers knew or should have known about Dupixent’s lymphoma risks, yet prioritized profits over patient safety by failing to warn consumers and the medical community. How the court handles Richardson’s lawsuit in its early stages may significantly influence the direction of the litigation as a whole.

Law firms are now investigating complaints like Richardson’s for individuals who were prescribed the drug for any of its approved uses and later diagnosed with CTCL, PTCL or another T-cell lymphoma subtype. To receive a free consultation to determine if you or a loved one may be eligible to file a lawsuit, submit information for review by a Dupixent lawyer.