AndroGel® Maker Scrutinized for Marketing Tactics

Testosterone use has figuratively exploded in the past decade. Today, the popularity of testosterone is clear, as the amount of men on testosterone nearly quadrupled from 2001 to 2011. With testosterone so common – and with new studies associating testosterone therapy with adverse cardiovascular risks such as stroke and heart attack – many are questioning whether the advertising practices used by testosterone makers should be reviewed.

Overselling of testosterone has become a significant concern as of late. For many medical experts and safety advocates, companies that made and marketed testosterone products – including AndroGel® manufacturer AbbVie and Abbot Laboratories – sold consumers, mostly middle-aged men, on a medically-vague condition referred as Low T. Five men who filed claims earlier this month are alleging that these overstated claims and the associated risks of testosterone therapy led to their injuries.

One claim filed against AbbVie and Abbot Laboratories alleges that the companies misrepresented AndroGel as a safe treatment and that the product increased risks of stroke, heart attack, and death. The claim further states that the companies engaged in aggressive ad campaigns focused directly on consumers. These ads created a "disease awareness" campaign that informed men about Low T and used a website quiz for men to see if they suffered from Low T.

The site's quiz asked men a series of questions about things most middle-aged men encounter, including loss of strength and energy. One lawsuit has stated that this quiz was written by a doctor who has admitted that it is not an ideal questionnaire. For one, many of the purported "symptoms" of Low T are vague and can affect all types of people. They can also be explained by the natural aging process. Still, the quiz and other marketing tactics allowed testosterone makers to sell men on Low T. These men, as well as doctors, further believed that these products were safe for their intended use. A spike in AndroGel sales, which surpassed over $1.37 billion a year, resulted from a spike in Low T diagnoses.

The claims against AbbVie and Abbot Laboratories were filed earlier this month. As more research into the risks associated with testosterone products, more claims are expected to follow, especially those involving AndroGel lawsuits.

At The Senators (Ret.) Firm, our legal team is currently reviewing claims from men who suffered cardiovascular problems – such as stroke or heart attack – after using testosterone products like AndroGel. For more information about your case and rights, call (800) 773-0849.