Uloric is a popular gout medication from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, Uloric has been linked with an increased risk of heart-related death.

If you or a loved one has suffered from side effects of Uloric—including, in some cases heart-related death—you may be able to join the litigation against Takeda, the drug’s manufacturer, and pursue compensation.

Background of Uloric

Uloric (generic name febuxostat) was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009 as a treatment for gout. Since its approval, Uloric has quickly become one of the most popular options for gout treatment available on the market.

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid. This leads to redness, swelling, and joint pain. In order to treat gout, Uloric and other gout medications work to lower the levels of uric acid found in a patient’s blood.

The FDA’s Uloric Warning

The FDA released a warning in November 2017 about Uloric’s link with a heightened risk of heart-related death, citing a recent study. The study compared Uloric (febuxostat) to Zyloprim and Aloprim (both brand names of allopurinol). This study was a clinical trial form Uloric’s drug maker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which evaluated more than 6,000 gout patients being treated with either Uloric or allopurinol.

According to the study, patients who took Uloric increased their risk of heart-related death, as well as death from all causes. Other severe Uloric side effects found in the study include heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac ischemia. (Cardiac ischemia is a condition that occurs when the heart’s blood supply is decreased and can require urgent surgery.)

“Health care professionals should consider this safety information when deciding whether to prescribe or continue patients on febuxostat,” said the FDA in its warning. “Patients should talk to your health care professionals if you have any questions or concerns. Do not stop taking your medicine without first consulting your health care professional.”

Filing an Uloric Lawsuit Over Risk of Heart-Related Death

A whistleblower lawsuit was filed against Takeda over these major side effects back in 2012. The lawsuit was filed by a former safety consultant for Takeda, who alleged that the pharmaceutical giant concealed essential information about Uloric complications from the government.

According to the lawsuit, Takeda concealed side effects caused when patients took Uloric along with other drugs like digoxin, Imuran, methadone, and warfarin, which reportedly lead to the deaths of some patients.

If you or a loved one has experienced cardiovascular complications of Uloric—or if a loved one has suffered from heart-related death after using Uloric—you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Though a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by cardiovascular side effects or heart-related death, it can at least help to alleviate some of the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.