Research shows that use of the diabetes drug Actos for more than one year increases the risk of bladder cancer by 40 percent.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated an Actos label update to reflect the bladder cancer risk in June 2011. This followed a review of a study conducted on 200,000 diabetes patients. The study found that the risk of bladder cancer is increased by 40 percent for those who take Actos for more than one year or in the highest cumulative dose. The study is ongoing, as is the FDA’s investigation of Actos and the drug’s related risk of bladder cancer.
Approved by the FDA in 1999 to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, Actos experienced accelerated success. This happened especially after its competitor, Avandia, was linked in 2007 to increased risk of heart attack. Sales of Actos topped $4.3 billion in 2010. Over two million prescriptions were filled between January and October 2010. With the 40 percent increased a risk of bladder cancer caused by Actos, users who develop bladder cancer could number in the thousands.
Actos Lawsuits Filed
The Michael Brady Lynch Firm has filed over a dozen lawsuits against Actos manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceuticals. We’ve filed for failing to warn Actos users of the increased risk of bladder cancer. Pharmaceutical companies are legally bound to thoroughly research all possible harmful side effects of drugs. They must report those risks to consumers, doctors, and the FDA. Until the FDA-mandated label change in August 2011, Actos users were not warned of the full extent of Actos’ bladder cancer risks. These consumers who developed bladder after taking Actos deserve compensation for the medical costs and lost income, as well as the emotional and physical damage caused by Takeda’s negligence.
Help Still Available for Actos Bladder Cancer Victims
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.
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
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. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.
Learn More
Help Still Available for Actos Bladder Cancer Victims
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Jury Finds Actos Manufacturer Intentionally Destroyed Evidence
