Actos is a drug that’s prescribed by physicians to treat type 2 diabetes. It’s very efficient in regulating blood sugar – however long-term use is linked to a number of serious health complications, including cancer. As such, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after taking Actos, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
Actos and Bladder Cancer
In 1999, the FDA approved Actos for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and it quickly became a best-selling drug that helps control blood sugar. However, in 2011 the FDA released a safety announcement concerning Actos and its link to bladder cancer. The report was released after the agency reviewed data from an ongoing study by the drug’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Though the data didn’t show an overall increased risk of bladder cancer among users, it did demonstrate that patients taking the drug at a high dose for more than one year had a 40% higher risk of developing the condition.
In response to these new revelations, the FDA warned that Actos should not be prescribed to individuals who have bladder cancer, and physicians should use caution with individuals who have a history of the disease.
Patients who are on the medication are also advised to watch for signs and symptoms of bladder cancer, such as:
- Blood in urine.
- Back and/or lower abdominal pain.
- An urgent need to urinate.
- Painful urination.
Because it appears that the manufacturer may have been aware of the cancer link but failed to provide adequate warnings to patients and physicians, users of the medication who developed bladder cancer may be entitled to file a lawsuit to recover damages.
Actos Lawsuit Updates
September 16, 2015
akeda Pharmaceuticals signed a $2.3 billion settlement for about 10,000 people who were diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking Actos.
July 22, 2015
A 10-year study ordered by the FDA finds that Actos is associated with a 41% increased risk of pancreatic cancer, but no increased risk of bladder cancer.
February 12, 2015
A man who was on Actos for three years before being diagnosed with bladder cancer has been awarded $2.3 million in compensation by a jury in Philadelphia.
October 3, 2014
A woman who developed bladder cancer after taking Actos was awarded $2 million by a jury in Philadelphia.
Schedule A Consultation
If you or a loved one have been the victim of negligence or misconduct, please do not hesitate to contact among the best attorneys Miami has available at Goldberg & Rosen today to receive expert guidance about your legal options, as well as a free and confidential case evaluation.
© Goldberg & Rosen. All Rights Reserved.