Amanda Antell  |  August 7, 2014

Category: Legal News

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Actos lawsuit

A Michigan woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, alleging its drug Actos caused her husband to develop bladder cancer, which led to his death.

Like many patients who are prescribed Actos, Donald R. Byers had been contending with the severe symptoms of type-2 diabetes and was prescribed Actos. While Actos had worked initially, Byers started developing symptoms not mentioned on the drug’s label. Soon after being examined by a medical professional, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, according to the Actos bladder cancer lawsuit filed by plaintiff Constance Byers.

Donald Byers ultimately died from this condition, and had been unaware of the potential cause. Constance Byers’ lawsuit will be part of the Actos multidistrict litigation. She alleges the manufacturer had the responsibility to warn her husband and all other Actos patients of the potential for bladder cancer as a side effect because they rely on the accuracy of the information provided.

Bladder cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Byers insists that her husband never would have taken Actos if he had known about the possibility of bladder cancer, according to her Actos lawsuit.

The Actos lawsuit accuses Takeda Pharmaceuticals of negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

The Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit is In Re: Actos Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2299, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

Overview of Actos Complications

Actos was first approved to sell in the United States in July 1999 as a type-2 diabetes treatment drug. It was released jointly by Takeda and Eli Lily & Co. Since then, it has become one of the best selling drugs in the country reaching tenth place in the United States in 2008, and bringing in more than $4.2 billion in global sales in 2009. Experts state that the drug’s popularity stems from its aggressive and quick treatment.

This drug is a part of an insulin-sensitizing diabetes drug family called thiazolidinediones (TZDs). These drugs can only work in the presence of insulin, making them useless for patients with type-1 diabetes. TZDs work by initiating insulin production to balance the body’s blood sugar levels, preventing dehydration and diabetic attacks.

Records indicate that Actos had induced cancerous tumors in lab mice, but the drug makers reportedly made no mention of this when the drug was presented for approval. After several studies were conducted, the FDA released a public statement on June 15, 2011, stating that patients had a significantly higher chance of developing Actos bladder cancer if they used the drug for one year or more.  The FDA based this announcement on a year of incident reports, and concluded that patients who took this medication for more than one year had at least a 40 percent increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

In general, Actos bladder cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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