Actos Lawsuits On The Rise After FDA Warning
Many diabetic patients are unable to control their condition with exercise and diet, requiring additional medications to regulate their blood sugar. One of these medications, Actos, has been recently found to have some serious potential side effects. While many diabetes patients are willing to overlook the side effects of drugs that help them to manage their condition, the possible link between Actos and bladder cancer has many patients up in arms. So much so, in fact, that many are choosing to file lawsuits against the manufacturer of the drug, Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
The United States Food & Drug Administration changed the warning label on Actos in June 2011, when it discovered the potential link between using Actos and bladder cancer. The 10-year FDA study on the drug found that the highest risk of developing bladder cancer was present among patients that took the drug in higher concentrations and for a period of at least one year. Some patients feel that the drug should have been taken off of the market at this point, and feel a sense of betrayal toward the FDA and Takeda.
In September of 2011, the FDA announced that more study was necessary to determine if Actos does, in fact, increase the risk of cancer. They did acknowledge, however, that there is definitely a “potential safety risk” associated with the drug. The FDA is currently working in conjunction with the manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, to complete the study of the potential side effects of Actos.
Studies in the U.S. and France have shown that laboratory animals have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer when administered clinical doses of Actos. France has already banned the drug from sale and use, and other European countries appear to be ready to follow suit.
Currently, there are a number of Actos lawsuit pending against Takeda Pharmaceuticals alleging that Actos caused patients to develop bladder cancer, and that the manufacturer did not sufficiently warn doctors and patients about the potential risks associated with the drug. Experts in the medical and law communities estimate that Takeda could soon be facing thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lawsuits in this matter.
Diabetic patients who have been prescribed Actos may be confused, hurt, and angry about the potential side effects of the drug they have been given. Patients rely on doctors and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the FDA, to safeguard their health from these types of risks. When patients feel that their trust has been betrayed by the medical community, they are often not sure how to go about addressing their concerns.
Patients who are taking or have taken Actos in the past should contact a medical lawyer to discuss their legal options. A lawyer will be able to evaluate your experience and advise you on the best course of action. Courts are currently working to determine if Actos lawsuits should be consolidated, due to the sheer number of future cases expected. If this occurs, patients may have a greater chance of winning the suit, simply due to the combined effect of the evidence from individual cases.