Actos® Litigation
Call Our Experienced Dangerous Drug Lawyers in Indiana.
If you or a loved one suffered severe side effects, including the development of bladder cancer, after taking Actos, you may be able to seek compensation for damages. Recent studies have revealed the severe health risks of Actos, leading the FDA to release a black box warning for possible congestive heart failure. Over the past few years, the drug manufacturer, Takeda, has received thousands of lawsuits for failure to conduct adequate research and for negligence.
What is Actos?
Actos, the brand name for the drug pioglitazone, is a medication prescribed for the treatment of Type II Diabetes. Actos was designed to lower blood sugar by decreasing insulin levels and reducing glucose production in the liver. It is administered orally once a day, and in varying doses in correlation to the need of the patient and the discretion of the prescribing doctor.
The FDA approved of distribution in 1999 and Actos has since been one of the most popular diabetes medicines and best-selling diabetes drug in the nation. Years later, the FDA began reviewing studies of individuals who developed bladder cancer at an unusually high rate after taking Actos for a period of more than one year.
Health Risks
Dangerous drug Actos has been linked to numerous dangerous side effects, most prominently congestive heart failure, liver failure, and the increased risk of the development of bladder cancer.
Severe side effects of Actos include:
- Congestive heart failure
- Increased risk of bladder cancer
- Liver failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Bone fractures, especially in the hands, feet, and ankles
- Upper respiratory infection
- Hypoglycemia
Warnings and Medical Studies
In 2011 the FDA issued a warning based upon these studies that Actos may be linked to an increased risk of the development of bladder cancer for individuals using the drug for one year or more. Since these warnings have been released, health authorities in both German and France have suspended all use and sale of Actos because of the increased risk of the development of bladder cancer.
The FDA has recommended that physicians not use pioglitazone in patients with active bladder cancers or a history of bladder cancers and urged that the benefits of the drug must be weighed against these risk factors in such patients.
There is current litigation against the manufacturer of Actos, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, filed by people who developed bladder cancer after taking Actos for an extended period of time. When this drug was placed on the market, it is alleged that insufficient warnings existed to inform patients of these potential health risks and concerns.
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and has taken the drug Actos for a period of more than one year prior to the diagnosis, contact George & Farinas, LLP today to discuss your rights and how to file a product liability case.