A growing number of cancer patients are reporting suffering from atherosclerosis and other major cardiovascular complications of the cancer medication Tasigna.

If you or someone you love has suffered from significant side effects of Tasigna, including atherosclerosis, you may be able to file a Tasigna lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Tasigna Background

Tasigna (also known by its generic name, nilotinib) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia cancer. Tasigna belongs to a class of drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and has quickly become a popular option for cancer treatment, bringing in $1.7 billion in sales in 2016 alone.

Tasigna is manufactured by Novartis, and has been available for more than a decade, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration back in October 2007.

Unfortunately, long-term Tasigna use has been associated with significant complications. One of the most serious of these issues is a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when a person’s arteries harden and narrow with plaque, which can eventually block arteries and reduce blood flow to the arms, legs, heart, brain, and more.

Heart diseases like atherosclerosis can lead to serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, limb amputation, and peripheral arterial disease. Indeed, atherosclerosis can pose a life-threatening risk.

Atherosclerosis has a number of causes, including high blood pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol. Atherosclerosis has also been associated with the use of the popular cancer drug Tasigna.

In recent years, several studies have linked the use of Tasigna with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular events, including a 2016 study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. In 2011, a Tasigna atherosclerosis study found that 25 percent of Tasigna patients suffered from vascular problems and 16 percent suffered from peripheral arterial disease because of exposure to the drug.

Because of these significant side effects linked with Tasigna in more than a dozen studies, including findings from the FDA that “strongly suggest an association between nilotinib (Tasigna) and PAOD (peripheral arterial occlusive disease),” the risk of atherosclerosis was eventually added to the drug’s warning label.

Filing a Tasigna Lawsuit

Novartis now faces a growing pile of litigation alleging that the company knew but failed to warn about the risks associated with Tasigna, including atherosclerosis—and had indeed known about the risks for years. Indeed, lawsuits allege that Novartis continued to aggressively market the drug as safe and effective.

Lawsuits claim that Novartis placed company profit over patient safety by downplaying these risks.

If you or a loved one has suffered from side effects of Tasigna, such as atherosclerosis problems, or if a loved one has died from these complications, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

While filing a Tasigna lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by complications associated with Tasigna, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses and lost wages.