Actos / [Pioglitazone]

Actos is a prescription drug taken to treat Type-2 diabetes. In June of 2011, the FDA issued a safety communication, announcing that scientific data reveals a 40% increased risk for Bladder Cancer if the drug was taken for more than one [1] year. The FDA required the manufacturers of Actos, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, to update their product insert information, the Warning and Precautions section to include this information to warn both prescribing doctors and consumers. It is estimated that more than two million Americans take this drug. Many consumers have taken Actos and are still taking it without knowing about this risk because the manufacturer has failed to adequately warn them.

The Europeans have a much more vigilant post marketing surveillance system in place, allowing them to spot dangerous “signals” of adverse events sooner than in the U.S. In addition, because they have a better system of tracking all prescription drugstaken and associated adverse events,they can perform more reliable epidemiological studies on these adverse events. As a result, a recent epidemiological study conducted in France found an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with Actos. Based on these results, France suspended the physicians use of Actos. Germany recommended that Actos not be started as the first diabetes drug in newly diagnosed patients. Takeda likely overpromoted this medication to healthcare providers and the public.

If you have knowledge of such activity, please contact Attorney Dudley as you may have a whisleblower [Qui Tam] case. Bladder symptoms which may be indicative of bladder problems related to Actos include, but may not be limited to: abnormal urine testing with blood in the urine, urinary urgency, pain during urination and associated abdominal or back pain and/or a diagnosis of bladder cancer.

If you have had these symptoms but do not have a diagnosis of bladder cancer, we would recommend that you discuss this with your treating doctor. If you have had bladder cancer diagnosed and were on Actos for at least six [6] months, please gather your key pharmacy & medical records and contact us immediately. Do not wait to get expert medical-legal advice because consumers of various drugs, devices and victims of negligence [auto wrecks, medical malpractice] have only a limited time to file a claim or their legal rights will be barred. In some states it is as short as one year! This time limitation [sometimes called the” STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS”] differs in every state .

There are now so many people affected that the Federal courts have consolidated all the lawsuits in front of one federal judge to manage the discovery aspects of these cases. If you have a diagnosis of bladder cancer, want to speak to an attorney, want individualized attention to your case and damages, contact us now.