An Actos lawsuit was brought before a Philadelphia jury last week that accused Takeda Pharmaceuticals of causing plaintiff John K. to develop Actos bladder cancer. John is one of many plaintiffs who have allegedly experienced adverse Actos side effects.

John K., a retired high-school teacher, developed bladder cancer in December 2008. He experienced this alleged Actos side effect after using the drug for three years to treat his type-2 diabetes.

The Actos lawsuit stated that Takeda Pharmaceuticals failed to adequately warn the plaintiff in time about Actos bladder cancer. As a result, the plaintiff had to have his bladder removed in 2011.

In a statement made during the Actos lawsuit , the plaintiff’s lawyer stated, “Actos causes bladder cancer, and the company now warns doctors that Actos could cause bladder cancer. We’re here today because Takeda never warned his doctors.”

The plaintiff’s physician did take John off of Actos once he was informed about the risk of Actos bladder cancer.

John filed his Actos lawsuit in 2012, about a year after having his bladder removed. He is seeking punitive damages (damages that punish the company for their negligence), as well as compensation for present and future medical costs.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals put Actos on the market to treat type-2 diabetes in 1999. Actos bladder cancer warnings were eventually added to the warning label in 2011. However, this was not until thousands, if not millions, of individuals were unknowingly put at risk for developing serious Actos side effects. Many people in the medical community have suggested that this label change was seriously overdue.

When taking about John’s alleged Actos bladder cancer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ attorney stated, “There is a difference between association and causation. The two are not the same.” The defendant claimed that John had other risk factors (obesity and a history of smoking) that led to his bladder cancer, and that the bladder cancer was not an Actos side effect.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals referenced a recent study that suggested Actos bladder cancer was not statistically significant.

In spite of the defendant’s allegations, billions of dollars have already been awarded to Actos bladder cancer victims. The largest award was a $9 billion punitive damage payment over the accusation that Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly hid Actos bladder cancer risks to maintain profits. The defendants stated they would appeal this decision. This case was the first in an Actos MDL that was filed against the type-2 diabetes drug manufacturers.

John and many other plaintiffs have allegedly experienced Actos bladder cancer, often as a result of using the drug for more than one year. Actos lawsuits have claimed that Takeda Pharmaceuticals failed to warn against Actos side effects that it was, or should have been, aware of.

This Actos Lawsuit is Case No. 120702275, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Actos lawsuit or Actos class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Actos bladder cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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