The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public warning on Dec. 12, 2016 confirming that type 2 diabetes medications containing pioglitazone may be linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Pioglitazone is a drug used to improve blood sugar control by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The mediation is also marketed as:
- Actos
- Actoplus Met
- Actoplus Met XP
- Duetact
- Oseni
FDA Warnings
The FDA first alerted the public about Actos’ link to bladder cancer in September 2010 and again in June 2011 after reviewing the interim findings of a 10-year study regarding the medication’s risks.
At that time, it required pioglitazone medications add a warning label that informed users of the increased risk of developing bladder cancer.
After the initial FDA warnings, Takeda, the manufacturer of Actos, was ordered to modify and carry on with its 10-year study of pioglitazone. The company concluded its study by stating it did not find any link between pioglitazone-medications and bladder cancer.
However, the FDA noted several independent studies connected pioglitazone to bladder cancer after long-term, high-dosage use.
As a result, the FDA updated the warning label once again to include more information from these recent studies.
Lawsuits Related to Actos
After warning labels were included on pioglitazone medications in 2011, nearly 9,000 lawsuits were filed against the manufacturer of Actos. A record $9 billion settlement was delivered by a Louisiana jury in an Actos lawsuit in 2014.
A man who took Actos from 2004 until 2011 was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2011 and received a $37 million verdict. His lawyers asserted that Takeda was aware of the risks yet destroyed pertinent evidence.
If you believe that you or someone you love developed bladder cancer after taking Actos, you may be entitled compensation through an Actos lawsuit. A Knoxville personal injury lawyer at Greg Coleman Law may be able to help you recover damages for any medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that occurred after taking Actos. We only charge legal fees if you are awarded damages, and we will provide you with a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Call (865) 247-0080 to learn more about filing a class action lawsuit.
