Sanofi May Assert Lack of Knowledge of Taxotere Hair Loss Risk

Sanofi-Aventis US LLC may defend against failure-to-warn allegations by arguing it couldn’t have known by January 2007 of an alleged link between the breast cancer drug Taxotere and permanent hair loss, a federal court in Louisiana said.

Fact questions on this issue preclude summary judgment for Taxotere plaintiffs, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana said. Rather, juries must make this determination, according to the court, which oversees some 12,000 cases in a multidistrict proceeding.

The plaintiffs offered evidence they said establishes that as of Jan. 26, 2007, Sanofi knew Taxotere could cause permanent hair loss.

On ...