The chronic myeloid leukemia treatment known as Tasigna is a popular cancer drug. Unfortunately, long term effects of Tasigna can reportedly be extremely severe, causing permanent harm. Indeed, long term effects of Tasigna may include atherosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, and more.

If you or someone you love have suffered from long term effects of Tasigna like atherosclerosis, you may be able to pursue litigation.

Basics of Tasigna

Tasigna (also sold under its generic name, nilotinib) is a leukemia treatment manufactured by Novartis and first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007. Tasigna is approved to treat chronic myeloid leukemia cancer.

Since its introduction to the market, it has become one of the most widely used cancer drugs available. In the year 2016 alone, Tasigna sales reportedly brought in a whopping $1.7 billion.

Long Term Effects of Tasigna

While any medication can come with certain side effects, severe complications should be included in a “Black Box” warning — one of the most severe labeling warnings that can be required by regulatory agencies. Tasigna includes a few of these warnings, but some patients claim that they were not warned about one of the most serious long term effects of Tasigna, atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular condition involving a patient’s arteries, causing them to thicken as white cells and plaque buildup on the walls. Thickening arterial walls narrow the channel and limit the blood flow, a condition known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This condition most often affects the legs’ arteries, but can also occur in other parts of the body, like the arms, stomach, and head. Symptoms of loss of blood circulation from PAD can include cramping, pain, or tiredness. Patients suffering from PAD can find it difficult to walk or climb stairs. Symptoms usually lessen with rest, but further activity will bring symptoms back.

Blood circulation loss from atherosclerosis is irreversible and can lead to serious or even life-threatening problems. These risks include blood clots, which cause pain, sores or ulcers, and issues walking. If an artery becomes totally blocked because of PAD, patients may suffer from gangrene or require limb amputation. If the artery that has been affected is a carotid artery, blockage like this can actually lead to a stroke and even death.

Studies have found a significant risk of atherosclerosis linked with Tasigna medication over the last few years. A post-market review from the FDA noted that its findings “strongly suggest an association between nilotinib (Tasigna) and PAOD (peripheral arterial occlusive disease)”.

The FDA’s findings were released in 2013, prompting Novartis to update Tasigna’s Black Box label to include the risk of Tasigna atherosclerosis. However, many patients were treated with Tasigna for years before this Black Box warning was updated.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Long Term Effects of Tasigna

According to patient lawsuits, Novartis was aware of the risk of these long term effects of Tasigna far before they updated the medication’s Black Box warning. In fact, according to Tasigna lawsuits, the company failed to properly warn the public and the medical community about these risks for a substantial period of time, putting more lives at risk.

If you or someone you love has suffered from long term effects of Tasigna including atherosclerosis or related conditions, you may be able to file a Tasigna lawsuit against Novartis. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these side effects, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.