Risks Associated with Actos – Pharmaceuticals Fail to Warn

Here at LawInfo.com, we make it our goal to keep the readers of this blog informed about prescription drugs that may harm them so they can seek proper representation and care. Unfortunately, many patients who use prescription drugs suffer severe side effects because drug manufacturers fail to warm them about the dangers associated with taking certain drugs.  One such manufacturer is Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Actos.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Fails to Warn Patients of Risks Associated with Actos

Actos is a prescription drug that helps treat type-2 diabetes, manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and co-marketed by Eli Lilly & Co.  However, it has been linked to a number of side effects, including bladder cancer and heart failure.

Many individuals harmed by the drug are now suing Takeda Pharmaceuticals.  They claim that the drugs manufacturer knew that Actos posed the risk of bladder cancer and intentionally failed to release this information to the public.  In 2007, the FDA gave Actos the black box warning label change because it failed to warn patients about the drugs severe side effects.

FDA Safety Announcement

On January 31, 2011, Actos was put on the FDA watch list.  On June 15, 2011 the FDA released a safety announcement informing the public that using Actos for more than one year may increase the risk of bladder cancer.  They further noted that individuals who receive treatment for bladder cancer should not take Actos.

Actos Lawsuits On the Rise

Reports indicate that the number of Actos lawsuits against Takeda Pharmaceuticals could rise as high as 10,000.  Most of the lawsuits allege that the drug’s manufacturer knowingly failed to warn patients of the drugs link to bladder cancer.  For example, in a recent Actos lawsuit, Terrence Allen claims that he would not have taken Actos if Takeda Pharmaceuticals warned him that the drug caused bladder cancer.  He was diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking Actos for around five years.

The makers of Actos may have cause for concern.  As a result of the increasing number of Actos lawsuits, a central court was created in Louisiana to handle all Actos Lawsuits.  The case is known as Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2299).

Additional Information

For additional information about Actos lawsuits, visit our Frequently Asked Question’s page.

If you or a loved one has suffered side effects from taking the diabetes drug Actos, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.