Number of Lawsuits Mounting Based on Link Between Diabetes Drug Actos and Bladder Cancer
While much has been reported by the media and public health organizations regarding the major health risk posed by the growing number of Americans with Type II diabetes, only recently has the public been alerted of the potential risk associated with the diabetes drug Actos.
The drug is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc and is still available on the market. There are currently hundreds of lawsuits pending against the drug company based on allegations that the diabetes drug leads to an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Actos became the most widely prescribed diabetes drug after the diabetes drug Avandia was linked to increased heart attack risk, which led to Avandia being banned in the EU, and its use in the U.S. being restricted. There have been a number of studies regarding the link between Actos and bladder cancer, not the least of which is the study conducted by the drug’s manufacturer. The Takeda study, which was conducted over a 10-year period, revealed that there was a 30 percent increased risk of developing bladder cancer when compared to those who had not used the medication. The risk rose to 50 percent higher for those who used the drug for more than 2 years and a whopping 70 percent for those who used the drug for more than 4 years. The FDA also analyzed data from the first five-year period of the Takeda study and found that those who took Actos for a year have a 40 percent higher risk of developing bladder cancer than someone who had not taken the drug.
The FDA recently issued a letter to Takeda notifying the drug manufacturer that they needed to start labeling Actos because of new safety information regarding the link between the dose and duration of taking the medication and the risk of bladder cancer. The FDA required labeling changes and France and Germany have suspended the sale of Actos because of the potential of an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. In addition to studies suggesting an increased risk of bladder cancer, Actos is in the same class of drugs as Avandia, which has been linked to an increased heart attack risk. Both drugs are designed to reduce insulin resistance and treat Type-2 Diabetes.
If you are or were previously taking Actos and have developed bladder cancer, you may have a product liability claim against the drug manufacturer. Pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to produce safe drugs, conduct appropriate trials and warn the public of potential harmful side-effects. If you have previously taken Actos and developed bladder cancer, we encourage you to contact our defective pharmaceutical attorneys at Montlick and Associates so that we can evaluate your claim.
Our Georgia defective pharmaceutical attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.