The low testosterone lawsuit is about how manufacturers failed about the significant side effects of testosterone replacement drugs. Allegedly, they falsely advertised the products that were initially for treating a medical condition named hypogonadism, but they marketed it for off-label use for a condition called “Low T”. Learn more here!
What is Low Testosterone?
It is the portions of the male population that have low testosterone health conditions that have to do with overall low counts of the hormone testosterone. The American Urology Association (AUA) regards someone having a low testosterone level if the presence in the blood is less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) for adults.
Despite that, some researchers and healthcare providers disagree with that and consider the low testosterone level to be below 250 ng/dL. Other symptoms are also taken into consideration when diagnosing low testosterone. This condition correlates with other medical issues, such as:
- Hair loss.
- Low energy levels.
- Decrease in sexual activity.
- Weight gain.
Various products and methods attempt to resolve those issues by increasing testosterone levels using the suggested or prescribed low-testosterone drugs.
About Low Testosterone Lawsuit
The main issue in this lawsuit is the failure of manufacturers to warn doctors and patients of the link between the use of their products and the dangerous side effects. These side effects include a heightened risk of getting strokes, heart attacks, or blood clots.
In the low testosterone lawsuit, people accuse the manufacturers of marketing the products as safe and effective for off-label use. On the contrary, the products reportedly provide little to no benefits for men without hypogonadism.
Over 25,000 lawsuits have been filed against them at the height of the litigation. Some manufacturers involved in this case are AbbVie Inc., Elu Lilly & Co., Pfizer Inc., and Endo International, with popular products AndroGel and Depo-Testosterone.
The criteria for suing the manufacturers is that most of the injuries had to happen within 90 days of using the product, except for death. Due to many cases, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation created a testosterone multidistrict litigation (MDL) in June 2014.
In particular, the testosterone MDL is considered rather complicated compared to the existing 206 MDLs throughout the United States. More than a half-dozen cases have gone to trial and received varied results. For thousands of cases, several manufacturers have tentatively reached confidential global settlements.
Low Testosterone (Low T) Marketing
Based on many low testosterone lawsuits, the related product advertisements on various media suggest that the cause of the decrease in energy levels is Low T instead of aging and other factors. The advertisements present middle-aged men who yearn to rejoin sports activities and ask men if they have lost their energy.
Through this, they set men up to believe that aging causes testosterone deficiency and urge them to pursue testosterone replacement therapy. As a result, many product manufacturers face harsh criticism because of these misleading marketing tactics.
They even managed to create a market worth $1.6 billion for testosterone replacement products. Regretfully, they haven’t made enough effort to inform consumers and doctors about the drug’s potential risks. Because of this, they also needlessly expose people to the severe side effects of hormone treatments.
Brands and Manufacturers Involved in Low Testosterone Lawsuit
According to Seeger Weiss LLP, there are several testosterone replacement product brands and manufacturers named in lawsuits, including:
| Brands | Manufacturers | Product Form |
| AndroGel | AbbVie | Topical gel |
| Androderm | Actavis | Transdermal patch |
| Bio T Gel | Teva | Topical gel |
| Delasetryl | Endo | Injection |
| Depo-Testosterone | Pfizer | Injection |
| Fortesta | Endo | Topical gel |
| Testim | Endo | Topical gel |
| Testopel | Endo | Topical solution |
| Striant | Endo | Buccal tablet |
How are Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Supposedly Used?
Testosterone replacement drugs are initially approved to treat hypogonadism, a condition where the men’s sex organs produce little to no testosterone. Testosterone drugs aren’t administering testosterone directly to the patient. Instead, it affects the precursors that can produce and process testosterone inside the human body.
The production of testosterone has a crucial role in males to manage mood and sex drive. Men who suffer from low testosterone may experience low libido, fatigue, and depression. However, it is natural for the drop in testosterone levels as part of the aging process.
The gradual decrease in testosterone levels begins around the age of 30. Nearly 40% of all men will lose some of their testosterone by the age of 45. Notably, this condition isn’t an illness that should receive treatment using testosterone replacement drugs. That’s why people are filing for low testosterone lawsuits.
Common Injuries and Side Effects of Testosterone Therapy
Some studies have shown the link between testosterone replacement products and the increasing risks of cardiovascular events in men. Also, the risk of getting a heart attack for men over the age of 65 is twice higher during the first three months of using the product.
In comparison, senior males who use testosterone replacement products have a 30% higher chance of suffering from stroke, heart attack, and even death compared to the ones who do not use it. Other serious side effects from using testosterone replacement products are:
- Difficulty breathing during sleep.
- Lower sperm count.
- Increased risk of prostate cancer.
- Enlarged and painful breasts.
- Increasing risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) in the legs.
- Worsening symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Settlements in Low Testosterone Lawsuit
Eli Lilly and Co. settled around 400 cases involving claims toward a testosterone replacement drug named Axiron that were part of MDL in December 2017. At that time, the amount and specifics of the settlement were not immediately made known to the public.
In November 2017, the manufacturer, Endo, won a trial against Steve Holtsclaw, who claimed that Testim caused him to have a heart attack. However, Endoo settled a lawsuit filed by a man who accused Testim of causing his stroke in state court in Philadelphia. The involved parties didn’t disclose the details of the settlement.
Later on, Endo declared that it would pay $200 million to settle 1,300 lawsuits and 900 cases in the MDL involving Testim in June 2018. A month later, in July 2018, Allergan concluded the settlement of over 500 Androderm lawsuits.
At first, the lawsuits sued Actavis, but Allergan took the cases over in 2014. Although companies settled and were willing to pay for compensation, none of them admitted being guilty.
Are You Going to File for Low Testosterone Lawsuit?
If you’re suffering from injuries and complications after using testosterone replacement drugs, you may be eligible to file for a low testosterone lawsuit. You should contact and consult with an experienced lawyer to ensure the proper handling of your issues. Therefore, you can get help to win the case.
