If you have suffered Tasigna side effects after taking the chemotherapy medication for chronic myeloid leukemia, you could be eligible for compensation.

Novartis, which reportedly made $1.7 billion from Tasigna in 2016 alone, is accused of hiding the drug’s risks from U.S. doctors and patients even after issuing warnings in Canada about potential Tasigna side effects.

Tasigna was approved by the FDA in 2007 to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. The myeloid cells make red blood cells, platelets and some types of white blood cells. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a genetic change that happens in the early, immature stage of the myeloid cells.

Tasigna Side Effects Include Atherosclerosis

While Tasigna treats chronic myeloid leukemia by targeting the enzyme responsible for the cancer cell growth, the chemo drug also allegedly causes severe atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries.) In some cases, atherosclerosis occurs almost immediately upon beginning Tasigna treatment.

Atherosclerosis occurs when the arterial walls become narrow due to a buildup of plaque and white blood cells. As a result, blood flow becomes impaired, leading to serious cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks, strokes, and even, death.

In 2016, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Novartis when chronic myeloid leukemia patient Dainis L. allegedly died of Tasigna side effects. After taking Tasigna for more than a year, Dainis suffered from atherosclerosis, which allegedly included 100 percent narrowing of the femoral arteries, a 40 to 60 percent narrowing of his coronary arteries, and a 70 percent narrowing of his cerebral arteries.

The oncologist for Dainis stopped the Tasigna treatment as soon as he read in a medical journal that the chemo drug had been linked to a rapid onset of atherosclerosis, according to the lawsuit. Unfortunately, atherosclerosis is irreversible, and the damage to his cerebral arteries caused Dainis to die of a massive stroke in March 2014.

His family filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Novartis, alleging the company knew of the severe and dangerous Tasigna side effects because the company had warned patients and doctors in Canada.

Tasigna’s link to atherosclerosis has been documented in a dozen studies published throughout the world’s medical journals. The first study was published in 2011 when one-fourth of Tasigna patients were found to have vascular issues. An additional 16 percent were found to suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which occurs when the arteries are so narrow the patient starts to exhibit symptoms.

PAD symptoms include severe muscle cramps that may affect the hips, thighs or calves when the patient climbs stairs, exercises, or simply walks. The American Heart Association says the cramping is the body’s way of communicating that inadequate blood flow exists to meet the increased demands of such movements.

If you or a loved one has suffered from PAD, atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke or other serious Tasigna side effects, you could be eligible for compensation through legal representation to hold Novartis accountable for your injuries.