In April 2015, Takeda Pharmaceuticals agreed to a $2.4 billion settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits claiming the diabetes drug, Actos caused their bladder cancer. This is believed to be the largest settlement ever for a drug still on the market. Help is still available even if you didn’t make it into the first settlement.
About Actos
Approved by the FDA in 1999 to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, Actos (pioglitazone) experienced accelerated success. This happened after studies linked its competitor, Avandia, in 2007 to increased risk of heart attack. Sales of Actos topped $4.3 billion in 2010. Pharmacies filled over two million prescriptions between January and October 2010. Since Actos brings a 40% increased risk of bladder cancer, users who develop bladder cancer could be in the thousands.
Actos Bladder Cancer Victims
Recent studies show a much stronger link between Actos and bladder cancer than was indicated during early clinical trials. The FDA first alerted the public about the risk in September 2010. Then, Takeda updated labels in 2011 to include the warnings. A 2016 report from the FDA review of Takeda’s study confirmed the connection and warned patients with a history of bladder cancer to carefully consider the benefits and risks.
While Takeda’s study showed no significant increase in the risk for bladder cancer in patients who had taken pioglitazone at some point, the risk increased significantly with a higher dosage and longer duration. A separate 2016 study from researchers in the United Kingdom confirmed these trends.
Doctors diagnose around 70,000 people with bladder cancer every year in the U.S. If caught before it spreads, medical professionals can usually treat it. However, it has a high recurrence rate.
Contact Us Today
Therefore, if you or your loved one has developed bladder cancer after taking Actos, you may be eligible for compensation. This can ease the associated financial, physical and emotional burdens. Contact us today to set up a free consultation. We will listen to your story and discuss your legal rights and options.