Tasigna is a drug that is most commonly used to treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. “Philadelphia” refers to the “Philadelphia,” or “Ph” chromosome, which determines if an individual has the condition or not. Numerous studies have shown that Tasigna can have serious, life-threatening side-effects that patients may not have been adequately warned about.

The studies show that the side effects of Tasigna can include atherosclerosis, a thickening of the arterial walls. In turn, this can develop into peripheral arterial disease (PAD), because as artery walls thicken and narrow, they become more susceptible to infection and tissue death. This can result in coronary artery disease, limbs requiring amputation, stroke, and death.

Tasigna is the brand name for nilotinib, a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The drug works by blocking chemical enzymes in cancer cells that trigger cell growth and division. It is one of the most popular cancer drugs, but nonetheless Tasinga comes with serious side effects.

It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a “Black Box” warning, which is the most serious classification of drug side-effects, warning of extremely severe side effects. 

Allegedly, the Swiss company that manufactures and sells the drug, Novartis International AG, has known about the serious risks of the drug since at least 2011, but is suspected of obscuring the information, especially when marketing the drug to American audiences.

Allegedly, Novartis actively markets Tasigna as superior to other cancer drugs. However, many people could have been unknowingly harmed by this powerful drug.

Many patients claim that the drug was falsely advertised as safe and effective, when in reality, the side effects of Tasigna can be severe. In fact, a study published in 2011 showed that five percent of Tasigna patients experienced vascular problems from taking the drug, and sixteen percent developed peripheral arterial disease.

In 2013, Novartis issued a side effect warning in the Canadian market, with the assistance of the Canadian health service, over the side effects of Tasigna. However, no such warning was issued in the United States, so medical providers and patients in the U.S. did not get the same notice of the dangers. Many Americans continue to take the drug to this day, unaware of the possible, life-threatening side effects of Tasigna.

A warning was issued to American consumers in 2013, when the Food and Drug Administration conducted an independent study of the drug’s connection with atherosclerosis, finding that there was a strong connection suggested between the two. As a result, Novartis was required to include an atherosclerosis warning on the drug’s packaging.

Many cancer patients claim that Novartis was negligent in not taking independent action to warn American consumers of the dangers of Tasigna. Lawyers are investigating the possibility of a lawsuit over the side effects of Tasigna, in the hopes of gaining compensation for patients injured physically, emotionally, and financially because of their use of the drug.