Iron Injection Lawsuit Filed Over Severe Hypophosphatemia (HPP) Risk from Injectafer

An Ohio Man has filed a product liability lawsuit after developing a serious condition known as severe hypophosphatemia (HPP) from the iron injection Injectafer, which results in dangerously low levels of phosphorous in the blood.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Kenneth Terpenning earlier this month in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, indicating the manufacturers of the iron injection knew for years that Injectafer may cause HPP, but failed to warn consumers or the medical community.

Terpenning indicates he was prescribed an Injectafer iron injection for the treatment of hematochezia and anemia in April 2018, and received one injection that month, with two additional injections in July 2018. As a direct result of the iron injection, he suffered dangerous drops in phosphorous levels, left him with serious injuries.

“As a result of his use of Injectafer, Plaintiff has suffered, and will likely suffer in the future, severe and permanent injuries and damages, including muscle fatigue and weakness; severe and worsening joint, bone and muscle pain; diffuse myofascial pain; difficulty walking; joint swelling; muscle spasms; neck pain and stiffness; dizziness and lightheadedness; tremors and shakes; chest pain; palpitations; irregular heart beat; shortness of breath; agitation; decreased concentration; and significant pain,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff’s severe and permanent injuries impair his daily activities.”

Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose) was introduced by Daiichi Sankyo in 2013, as an iron injection for adults with anemia, who are not able to be treated with an oral iron supplement and have non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease. However, side effects of Injectafer have been linked to reports of serious and life-threateningly low phosphorous levels.

The lawsuit notes that Injectafer is the only anemia treatment on the U.S. market which contains a unique ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) compound, which is known to cause severe HPP and potentially persistent HPP. The lawsuit claims the manufacturers knew about these risks but failed to warn the medical community or patients being given the injections.

The case joins a growing number of other Injectafer lawsuits filed in recent months, each involving similar allegations of severe drops in phosphate levels linked to side effects of the iron infusion.