Actos

       Many people that have taken the prescription drug pioglitazone, which is sold under the brand name of “Actos” are developing bladder cancer.  Actos is sometimes prescribed to treat patients suffering from Diabetes.  Prostate cancer rates are high for those patients that take Actos.  Japanese company Takeda Pharmaceutical is the manufacturer of Actos.  Actos lawsuits are often required in order for people injured by Actos to get the compensation and care that they deserve and require.

       The first Actos trial involves a patient who developed terminal bladder cancer after taking Actos.  In April of 2013, a California jury awarded $6.5 million to Plaintiff Jack Cooper and his wife in their Actos lawsuits.  The jury in this Actos lawsuit determined that Takeda failed to adequately disclose the link between Actos and bladder cancer.  The Actos lawsuits are similar to the vaginal mesh litigation currently working its way through the court system in a number of ways.

       Manufacturers of prescription drugs have a legal duty to people to warn both them and their doctors of any possible adverse health effects.  The Actos lawsuits filed by people cancer are generally based upon the fact that Takeda violated their duty.  For this reason, Takeda is legally responsible for the harm they have caused and must pay damages.

       A study in 2005 by Takeda itself, found 14 bladder cancers among patients in the Actos group, compared to 5 bladder cancers in the group that did not take Actos.  Despite their own study, Takeda denies that Actos was to blame for the higher rate of cancer.

       The Actos label currently states, “There are too few events of bladder cancer to establish causality”.  Anyone taking Actos that is suffering from bladder cancer, prostate cancer or another serious problem should immediately speak with an attorney.  There are strict time limits or “statutes of limitation” that can prevent even the most seriously injured and damaged people from obtaining justice.