Fifteen plaintiffs have filed a collective complaint and joined the Actos MDL accusing Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly of failing to adequately inform consumers and the medical community about the risk of bladder cancer associated with taking the type-2 diabetes drug Actos.

Of the 15 plaintiffs, two filed their Actos bladder cancer complaints on behalf of their deceased loved ones who took Actos and later developed bladder cancer. All 15 plaintiffs similarly allege that they or their loved ones took the prescription drug Actos to treat type-2 diabetes and all similarly claim that as a result of Actos side effects, they or their loved ones subsequently developed bladder cancer.

The Actos bladder cancer lawsuit further alleges that the pharmaceutical companies did not provide adequate warnings to the health care community and general public about the increased risk of serious adverse side effects, particularly bladder cancer.

Actos Bladder Cancer Risk

Takeda Pharmaceuticals made more than $16 billion on its blockbuster drug, Actos (pioglitazone), prior to the drug going generic in August of 2012. While Takeda’s internal Actos studies uncovered links to bladder cancer as early as 2004, the company didn’t alert U.S. regulators until seven years later.

On June 15, 2011, The FDA issued an Actos Drug Safety Communication warning of an increased bladder cancer risk associated with the use of Actos. This warning came after the FDA reviewed data at the five-year point from an ongoing study that Takeda was conducting to address the long-term risk of bladder cancer associated with Actos (pioglitazone) use.

The results showed that although there was no increased risk of bladder cancer among Actos users overall, there was an increased risk of bladder cancer among those who had used the drug the longest. There was also a greater risk of bladder cancer among Actos users who had been exposed to the highest cumulative dose of the drug.

Prior to the FDA warning, several European markets, including France and Germany, suspended the use of Actos, citing concerns over an increased risk of patients developing bladder cancer.

Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuits

Over 9,200 Actos bladder cancer lawsuits have been filed against Takeda by people who took Actos and later developed bladder cancer, alleging that Takeda Pharmaceuticals failed to warn them about the bladder cancer risks associated with the medication. Takeda Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $2.4 billion to settle the Actos bladder cancer lawsuits in a global settlement agreement. The Actos bladder cancer settlement is the largest single mass tort settlement for a drug that is still currently on the market.

The Actos Bladder Cancer Lawsuit joins the Actos MDL In re: Actos Product Liability Litigation, Case No: 6:11-md-02299, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

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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